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 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 The Wolves short-circuited the Nuggets’ repeat attempt. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026 The Spurs helped their young star by using different sets than the ones the Knicks had short-circuited in the first two games, creating more spacing for their guards to get two feet into the paint. — David Aldridge, New York Times, 10 June 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 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 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-circuited

Verb

India imports nearly 90% of its crude oil, so the war hampered vehicles that need gasoline and millions of homes and restaurants that need LPG.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
FireSat will help incident commanders get better information more quickly, and, unlike fire-spotting aircraft, the satellites can linger over a fire for days or weeks and aren’t hampered by high winds or smoke.

— Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of hampered

Verb

Supporters had campaigned for Merlin to be allowed into the Azteca to witness Mexico’s final group game — but the dabbler found his free passage impeded on Wednesday evening by FIFA regulations.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026
The Sugar Act directly impeded colonial drinking, as molasses is a key ingredient in rum.

— Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 June 2026

Definition of impeded

Verb

The Great American State Fair kicked off last week, though the 16-day event has been hindered by weather shutdowns, technical difficulties and low attendance.

— Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Smith has long complained that Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, hindered the province’s energy industry and fueled separatist sentiment.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

Definition of hindered

Verb

The road was so packed that his feet disappeared along the pavement, obstructed from view by those leading and those lagging behind.

— Sam McDowell July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
One of the suspects also assaulted and sprayed paint on a person, and when officers tried to detain the suspects several blocks away at Turk and Taylor streets, other people surrounded and obstructed the officers, police said.

— Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of obstructed

Verb

At one point, the narrator, embarrassed by his own act of cruelty, gives a sobbing woman all his money and then leaves her alone in a hotel room.

— Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 1 July 2026
The Chicago White Sox, a team many left for dead at the start of the year, embarrassed the Kansas City Royals Friday night, 22-1.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 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 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of short-circuited

verb

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