cannibalistic
Consuming one's own
Cannibalistic describes behavior involving the eating of one's own kind.
Literally, it applies to humans who consume human flesh or animals that prey on their own species: Some spider species are cannibalistic, with females eating males after mating.
Figuratively, it describes destructive competition within a group: The company's cannibalistic pricing hurt its own product lines.
Consuming animal tissue
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- Donner PartyIll-fated 1846 wagon train
- tribal ritualTraditional ceremonial group practice
- endocannibalismRitual eating of deceased members
funeral rites · kuru · prion disease · Hannibal Lecter · Jeffrey Dahmer · man-eater · taboo · consumption
Harmful to oneself
- self-defeatingCausing one's own failure
- underminingWeakening by covert means
- infightingRivalry within one organization
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
cutthroat · predatory · exploitative · devouring · consuming · ruthless · competitive · hostile
Cellular self-degradation process
- sibling rivalryCompetition between children sharing parents
- intrauterineWithin the uterus
- sand tiger sharkCoastal requiem with protruding teeth
- black widowLethal spider species
praying mantis · hamster · spider · larval · tadpole · overcrowding · stress response · population control
flesh-eating
Consuming animal tissue
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- Donner PartyIll-fated 1846 wagon train
- tribal ritualTraditional ceremonial group practice
endocannibalism · funeral rites · kuru · prion disease · Hannibal Lecter · Jeffrey Dahmer · man-eater · taboo · consumption · devouring
self-destructive
Harmful to oneself
- self-defeatingCausing one's own failure
- underminingWeakening by covert means
- infightingRivalry within one organization
backstabbing · cutthroat · predatory · exploitative · devouring · consuming · ruthless · competitive · hostile · aggressive
autophagy
Cellular self-degradation process
- sibling rivalryCompetition between children sharing parents
- intrauterineWithin the uterus
- sand tiger sharkCoastal requiem with protruding teeth
black widow · praying mantis · hamster · spider · larval · tadpole · overcrowding · stress response · population control · infanticide
cannibalisticnoncannibalistic
Not eating own species
herbivorous · vegetarian · vegan · omnivorous · insectivorous
cannibalisticcivilized
Socially developed and refined
humane · respectful · ethical · compassionate · nurturing