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definitions

cannibalism

[kan-uh-buh-liz-uh m]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cannibalism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the eating of human flesh by another human being.
the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of its own kind.
the ceremonial eating of human flesh or parts of the human body for magical or religious purposes, as to acquire the power or skill of a person recently killed.
the act of pecking flesh from a live fowl by a member of the same flock.
the removal of parts, equipment, assets, or employees from one product, item, or business in order to use them in another.
the acquisition and absorption of smaller companies by a large corporation or conglomerate.

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RELATED WORDS

primitive, savage

Nearby words

  1. canner,
  2. cannery,
  3. cannes,
  4. cannetille,
  5. cannibal,
  6. cannibalistic,
  7. cannibalization,
  8. cannibalize,
  9. cannikin,
  10. canning

Origin of cannibalism

First recorded in 1790–1800; cannibal + -ism
Related formscan·ni·bal·is·tic, adjectivecan·ni·bal·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbnon·can·ni·bal·is·tic, adjectivenon·can·ni·bal·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cannibalistic

British Dictionary definitions for cannibalistic

cannibalism

noun

the act of eating human flesh or the flesh of one's own kind
savage and inhuman cruelty
Derived Formscannibalistic, adjectivecannibalistically, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for cannibalistic
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper