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
His first act was to short-circuit a century of institutional muscle memory.
—
Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The trade tensions apparently short-circuited a recent rally in bitcoin.
—Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Deep familiarity often short-circuits game plans.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
To be frank, Jarrett’s rush pattern may have short-circuited the Next Gen Stats GPS system with more twists, twirls and figure-eights than an Olympic figure skating routine.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for short-circuit
Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The trade tensions apparently short-circuited a recent rally in bitcoin.
—Damian J. Troise, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Deep familiarity often short-circuits game plans.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
To be frank, Jarrett’s rush pattern may have short-circuited the Next Gen Stats GPS system with more twists, twirls and figure-eights than an Olympic figure skating routine.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for short-circuit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-circuit
Verb
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Aid groups say the true war death toll could be many times higher, as the fighting in vast and remote areas impedes access.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Although privacy advocates have praised the ability of encryption to effectively scramble messages so third parties are unable to snoop on people’s conversations, various members of law enforcement have said that doing so impedes their ability to investigate certain crimes.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Children need problem-solving skills to thrive outside their parents' home—lawnmower parenting can hinder the development of those skills.—
Jazmin Towe,
Parents,
22 Feb. 2026
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The team successfully addressed a recurring liquid hydrogen leak issue — which had previously hindered testing — by replacing seals that held firm during this full fueling process.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Moore was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, playing three years there before a series of injuries hampered his career.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
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Mild-mannered ex-comptroller Brad Lander is going to court to try to shed some light on what actually goes on at 26 Federal Plaza (which his presence allegedly obstructed).—
Brendan O'Connor,
Curbed,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The team embarrassed Canada, 5-0, in the preliminary round, and swept the North American neighbor in four straight Olympic tune-ups.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
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Their team might need the firmer assessment that challenges pride and even embarrasses, then the next year's group might need a lighter touch.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Short-circuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-circuit. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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