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 If his recovery isn’t so smooth and Tech needs to dig into its depth chart for multiple big games, the season could be short-circuited. — Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 18 Aug. 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 In January 2025, an Air Busan flight bound for Hong Kong also caught fire on the ground, when a battery stored in the overhead compartment short-circuited. — Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 26 May 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 Oilers superstar short-circuited another power play later in the third by cross-checking Tyson Hinds. — Los Angeles Times, 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. — 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

Efforts to prevent famine have been hampered by the January decision of the United States, once Somalia's largest donor, to freeze nearly all of the country's humanitarian aid.

— Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
The Panthers’ third-round pick from two years ago had fought through two difficult seasons hampered by injury.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of hampered

Verb

Kupor, head of the government’s chief human resources agency since July 2025, has publicly argued even jobs conducive to remote work can be impeded by working from home.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Kenya’s Red Cross said difficult terrain and a fire at the site of the crash impeded its search and recovery efforts.

— Alexandra Bacallao, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of impeded

Verb

Dodson and Rodriguez had been competing for the starting spot opposite Brooks, but injuries to that unit had watered down the competition and hindered the evaluation process.

— Omar Kelly August 26, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
The location of his injury has led some to wonder if he’ll be hindered — Judge did slump for a few weeks while playing through pain prior to going on the IL — but Boone didn’t share those concerns on Tuesday.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of hindered

Verb

Yoon has defended his action, calling it a desperate attempt to draw public support for his fight against the liberal opposition Democratic Party that obstructed his agenda.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Fake, obstructed, and missing plates are a major concern with cars and undoubtedly would be with MMVs.

— Richard Robbins, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of obstructed

Verb

One night earlier in the tour, a woman Usher had brought onstage rebuked him, which embarrassed him.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026
This isn’t a hypercar to smash lap records around the Nürburgring, but nor will it be embarrassed by a Porsche 911 GT3 at a track day.

— Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrassed

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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 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of short-circuited

verb

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