as in to circumvent
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness
are you sure there's no way to shortcut the entrance requirements?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 shortcut
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Quality of life improvements that make the game more manageable in a modern sense can often shortcut elements that were there to increase tension or complexity.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Erica Sweeney, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Mar. 2026
In other words, the scent of fermentation might be a shortcut to getting more calorie-dense food.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortcut
Verb
It will be decided by Iranians themselves, through a grinding contest of will, courage, and endurance that no external power can shortcut.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Quality of life improvements that make the game more manageable in a modern sense can often shortcut elements that were there to increase tension or complexity.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
Could nicotine — the highly addictive chemical compound in tobacco plants — find a new identity as a health shortcut?
—Erica Sweeney, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Mar. 2026
In other words, the scent of fermentation might be a shortcut to getting more calorie-dense food.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shortcut
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shortcut
Verb
-
The lawsuit says that HHS' declaration seeks to coerce providers to stop providing gender-affirming care and circumvent legal requirements for policy changes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Thousands of websites and platforms are blocked, as are multiple virtual private networks that allow users to circumvent censorship.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Two-thirds of children who were held back had summer birthdays between June and August — near the kindergarten enrollment cutoff dates in most states — and would have been young for their grade.—
Kate Sequeira,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
-
On Monday, Superintendent Rick West said accommodations have been made for twelve students approaching the 30-month-old age cutoff for preschool.—
Alysia Burgio,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mouth breathing bypasses that process entirely.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Lovaglio sought to bypass that by running as a candidate for one of the lender’s shareholders instead.—
Sonia Sirletti,
Bloomberg,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Cycle the Castle to Castle route, linking Enniskillen Castle to Portora Castle via loughside paths and low-traffic roads.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The waterway, a critical shipping route that runs along Iran’s southern border, has been severely disrupted since the start of the war, with traffic effectively coming to a halt and several ships being hit by projectiles in or near the waterway.—
Chloe Taylor,Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike CO₂-based models, these atmospheres avoid collapse.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Police urged the public to avoid the area and asked anyone who sees someone matching the description to call 911.—
Frederick Sutton Sinclair,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The changes at the intersection will mean the addition of two signs that will have flashing lights triggered by people or traffic at the crossing roads.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Another concern of residents was the condition of the RM 2871 road, a major thoroughfare in the area near the development that residents believe could get clogged up by construction traffic.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Electric vehicles don’t use gasoline or diesel, allowing their owners to evade the primary user-fee system that maintains those roads.—
Louis Sigaud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Police are searching for a suspect who jumped into the water at Mill Basin to evade police.—
John Dias,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The day before Katie Miller saw Wien on her street that September morning, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead in Utah.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
In 2009, when an election was stolen from a reformist candidate and handed to a hard-liner, millions of people marched peacefully in the streets.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shortcut.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shortcut. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
