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Definition of cannibal

cannibal

/ˈkæn.ə.bəl/
can · ni · bal
Adverb:cannibalistically
•
Plural:cannibals
•
Adjective:cannibalistic
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cannibal Lexical Profile

cannibal Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who eats the flesh of other human beings.

Example

"Early explorers often exaggerated tales of encountering a cannibal on uncharted islands."

2

An animal that feeds on flesh of its own species.

Example

"When food is scarce in the terrarium, the larger salamander may become a cannibal and prey on smaller individuals."

Synonyms
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• adjective

1

Relating to or characteristic of a cannibal or cannibalism; consuming others of the same species.

Example

"The documentary examined the survival strategies of cannibal insects during periods of extreme drought."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cannibal

• Rhymes for cannibal

• Nearby Words

cannelloni
canner
cannery
cannibal
cannibalism
cannibalistic
cannibalization

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Spanish 'Caníbales', a variant recorded by Christopher Columbus for the Carib people of the West Indies, from Taino 'caniba'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cannibal. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cannibal
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