CANNIBALISTIC Meaning and
Definition
-
The term "cannibalistic" is an adjective that pertains to the act or behavior of a cannibal, which is an individual who consumes the flesh or organs of their own species. Derived from the word "cannibal," which originates from the Spanish word "canibal" and the Carib word "karibna," meaning "a savage person," this term describes an extremely taboo and often grotesque practice.
To be cannibalistic implies the act of ingesting human flesh, typically for various reasons such as survival, ritualistic purposes, or cultural beliefs. This behavior has been observed throughout history in isolated incidents or within specific tribes or societies. However, it is important to note that cannibalism is generally considered one of the most reviled and socially unacceptable behaviors across cultures, with few exceptions.
The word "cannibalistic" is not strictly limited to its literal meaning and can also be used metaphorically or symbolically to describe behaviors or actions that exhibit extreme self-interest, aggression, or exploitation towards others. In non-literal contexts, it suggests a metaphorical devouring or destroying of one's own kind, often in terms of their resources, opportunities, or success.
In summary, the term "cannibalistic" is an adjective describing the act or behavior of consuming human flesh, whether it is literal or used metaphorically to portray extreme predatory or exploitative actions towards others.
Top Common Misspellings for CANNIBALISTIC *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for CANNIBALISTIC
Etymology of CANNIBALISTIC
The word "cannibalistic" is derived from the noun "cannibal" and the suffix "-istic".
The noun "cannibal" originated from the Spanish word "caníbal" and Portuguese word "canibal", which were both adapted from the Cariban languages spoken by indigenous peoples in the Caribbean region. The Carib people were known for their practices of ritualistic cannibalism, leading to the term being introduced into European languages.
The suffix "-istic" is derived from the Latin suffix "-isticus", which often denotes a characteristic or quality. When combined with "cannibal", it forms "cannibalistic", which describes someone or something that exhibits the behavior or characteristics of a cannibal.
Similar spelling words for CANNIBALISTIC
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
