cannibalise
/ˈkænəbəˌlaɪz/
verb
- To take parts from one machine or vehicle to repair or build another.
- They had to cannibalise the old truck to keep the tractor running.
- After the crash, the team cannibalised parts from the wrecked car for spares.
- The mechanic cannibalised two broken computers to make one working one.
- To use or draw from one thing (such as a product, idea, or resource) at the expense of another, especially in a way that reduces overall effectiveness or sales.
- The new smartphone model may cannibalise sales of the older version.
- The company worried that the cheaper brand would cannibalise its premium line.
- By publishing too many similar articles, the website cannibalised its own search traffic.