as in to impede
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of short-circuit
Headache doctors say that people can sometimes short-circuit a migraine by intentionally giving themselves a brain freeze.
—
Julia Daye, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
Ventricular tachycardia is a super-fast heartbeat triggered when an electrical wave short-circuits in the organ’s bottom chambers, the ventricles, and prevents them from pumping blood out to the body.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Eventually, these atoms reach the bottom electrode and create a permanent connection, short-circuiting the device and causing failure.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
Instead of seeing a few dishes or a stack of mail, the brain jumps ahead to the entire job—making the kitchen or dining room look like a showroom—and short-circuits in response.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for short-circuit
Julia Daye, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
Ventricular tachycardia is a super-fast heartbeat triggered when an electrical wave short-circuits in the organ’s bottom chambers, the ventricles, and prevents them from pumping blood out to the body.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Eventually, these atoms reach the bottom electrode and create a permanent connection, short-circuiting the device and causing failure.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
Instead of seeing a few dishes or a stack of mail, the brain jumps ahead to the entire job—making the kitchen or dining room look like a showroom—and short-circuits in response.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for short-circuit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-circuit
Verb
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Critics, meanwhile, say the legislation would impede on First Amendment rights.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Do not stop on the roadway or impede traffic.—
Devarrick Turner,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Moving forward, lawmakers should identify aspects of recent reforms that are hindering their intended purpose of increasing housing, while continuing to advance land-use liberalization across the state.—
Eliza Terziev,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
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Since October of last year, the agency has lost more than 1,500 agents, and these unfilled positions have severely hindered operational capacity at a critical moment.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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My enjoyment was always hampered by trying to manipulate and enlarge the grid.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Bodies were sighted, but fuel that could have been easily ignited and the natural terrain hampered rescue efforts to the point where even airboats were eventually prohibited from skimming the river of grass to help.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Branch, widely projected to go in the second round of the NFL draft later this week, faces misdemeanor charges of obstructing public sidewalks, prowling and obstructing a law enforcement officer.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
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Branch, who declared for the NFL Draft in January, was charged with obstruction of an officer and obstructing a public sidewalk, both misdemeanors, early Sunday morning.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Charlotte Checkers opened the AHL playoffs with a bang Wednesday, embarrassing the Springfield Thunderbirds in the opening game of the teams’ first-round AHL playoff series in Charlotte.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
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That said, some women would be wise not to embarrass themselves under the brighter lights that Clark brings.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Short-circuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-circuit. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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