SHORT-CIRCUITED Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

short-circuited

verb

past tense of short-circuit

as in hampered

to create difficulty for the work or activity of for decades the maverick filmmaker was short-circuited by a chronic lack of funds

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of short-circuited Thursday’s rulings effectively short-circuited Bianco’s efforts to keep the ballot probe alive. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 Complex domains demand established standards that cannot be short-circuited. — Mo Husain, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 His offense carried a high success rate, with nearly 46 percent of plays gaining EPA, but four lost fumbles, including three by Baker Mayfield, short-circuited the overall production in a 33-27 defeat at Cincinnati. — Mike Sando, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Almost two decades ago in Germany, a particularly wily octopus named Otto short-circuited his aquarium’s electrical system by shooting jets of water at an overhead light that perhaps caused an objectionable glare. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 July 2026 As soon as the water rushed in, my brain short-circuited—there were too many sensations at once. — Hannah Singleton, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 May 2026 As part of the presentation, BYD also staged a high-stress safety demonstration in which four battery cells were deliberately short-circuited. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026 McDavid trimmed the Oilers’ deficit with a fortunate deflection off Pavel Mintyukov’s stick, but the superstar short-circuited another power play later in the third by cross-checking Tyson Hinds. — ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026 McDavid trimmed the Oilers' deficit with a fortunate deflection off Pavel Mintyukov's stick, but the superstar short-circuited another power play later in the third by cross-checking Tyson Hinds. — CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-circuited

Verb

Creating lightweight device Neuroscientists studying behavioral brain activity have long been hampered by tethered equipment that kept laboratory animals locked in place.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
That uncertainty leaves the Chargers trying to get anything out of an offense hampered by the limitations of what's available to them right now in what increasingly looks like a lost season.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of hampered

Verb

In his ruling, Judge Joseph Montano found that prosecutors had impeded grand jurors who wanted to hear from defense witnesses.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
The ongoing conflict that has driven people from their homes in Iran as well as an internet shutdown and a lack of full cooperation from the two governments partially impeded the team's efforts to get information.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of impeded

Verb

Special teams had had a sprinkling of errors — like the game-opening 81-yard kickoff return Miami allowed — hindered that unit’s performance each week.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
Credit experts said the rate-cap proposal would have hindered consumers' access to credit.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of hindered

Verb

In the 2024 playoffs, Green Bay went into Dallas and embarrassed the Cowboys in a 48-32 rout.

— Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Philadelphia embarrassed itself in a non-competitive loss at Chicago on Monday night, unable to go drive-for-drive with journeyman quarterback Case Keenum, a 38-year-old backup’s backup.

— Andy Behrens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of embarrassed

Browse Nearby Words

short-circuit

short-circuited

short-circuiting

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“Short-circuited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-circuited. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of short-circuited

verb

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