SHORT-CIRCUITING Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

short-circuiting

verb

present participle of short-circuit

as in impeding

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-circuiting It has long been suspected that these boundaries possess distinct chemical and electrical properties that block ions, leak electrons, and trigger short-circuiting dendrites. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026 Becerra drew, by far, the most attacks, underscoring the priority other candidates put on short-circuiting his rise. — Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 8 May 2026 His deliquescent tissue had seeped under the keys, short-circuiting the motherboard. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 Is this not short-circuiting our inherent curiosity? — Paul Greenberg, Time, 20 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-circuiting

Verb

The Supreme Court has been a fitful friend to Trump in his second term, alternately enabling and impeding him.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Cornstarch can create issues like clogging sprayers, impeding root growth, or interfering with leaf function.

— Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of impeding

Verb

Birds visiting the feeder can get the goo on their wings, hampering their ability to fly and possibly leading to their untimely deaths.

— Joan Morris, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
Rescuers will use an extrication device and a helicopter, Fathur said, adding that there were no reports of people missing and no challenges hampering the search.

— Reuters, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of hampering

Verb

More than 1,300 people are missing, and a lack of connectivity, power and resources are hindering rescue efforts.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
The charges are hindering proceedings by disorderly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor, and disrupting a meeting or procession, a Class B misdemeanor.

— Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hindering

Verb

In July, Michaels was diagnosed with a complicated obstructing kidney stone, which required immediate surgery and the placement of a ureteral stent.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
But Seminole’s Special Magistrate Sherry Sutphen chastised Moncrief, a resident of The Springs neighborhood, for likely damaging the river’s ecology behind his home and obstructing its natural flow.

— Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of obstructing

Verb

The comprehensive regimen is meant to uncover any prior criminal conduct in an applicant’s past as well as embarrassing personal information that could make an employee vulnerable to blackmail.

— Eric Tucker, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Since then, Hochman has been slammed for playing politics, embarrassing his office and even backing down for no reason other than the pressure was too intense.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrassing

Browse Nearby Words

short-circuited

short-circuiting

short-circuits

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“Short-circuiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-circuiting. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of short-circuiting

verb

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