short-circuit
1 of 2verb
short-cir·cuit ˈshȯrt-ˈsər-kət 
short-circuited; short-circuiting; short-circuits
transitive verb
1
: to apply a short circuit to or establish a short circuit in
2
: bypass sense 2
3
: frustrate, impede
intransitive verb
: to become shunted by a short circuit
The radio short-circuited.
short circuit
2 of 2noun
: a connection of comparatively low resistance accidentally or intentionally made between points on a circuit between which the resistance is normally much greater
Synonyms
Verb
- clog
- cramp
- embarrass
- encumber
- fetter
- hamper
- handcuff
- handicap
- hinder
- hobble
- hog-tie
- hold back
- hold up
- impede
- inhibit
- interfere (with)
- manacle
- obstruct
- shackle
- stymie
- tie up
- trammel
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The fire was caused by a short circuit.
Recent Examples on the Web
Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 It’s as though there’s been a short circuit in the wires connecting stimulus to response, like synapses firing erratically, mixing dream with myth and memory. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 9 July 2022 One system near Hawaii developed a short circuit six months after deployment, and another was damaged by fishing activity off the coast of Japan. Jeffrey Marlow, The New Yorker, 26 July 2022 While the cause of the fire on the Felicity Ace might never be known because the ship is lying at the bottom of the ocean, experts say there is a danger that batteries in electric cars can short circuit and catch fire. William Boston, WSJ, 1 Mar. 2022 There was no short circuit on an electrical device in his room. Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 10 June 2022 Senegal’s health minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, told local media the blaze appeared to have been caused by a short circuit, Reuters reported. Anisha Kukreja, NBC News, 26 May 2022 Sarr, who was was attending the World Health Assembly in Geneva, cut short his trip to return to Senegal and told Rfm that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. Babacar Dione, ajc, 30 May 2022 In 2019, a fire caused by an electrical short circuit engulfed a building in New Delhi and killed 43 people. Fox News, 14 May 2022 See More
Noun
State media said the initial cause of the fire is believed to be an electrical short circuit, according to the CBS News and the AFP. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 It’s as though there’s been a short circuit in the wires connecting stimulus to response, like synapses firing erratically, mixing dream with myth and memory. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 9 July 2022 One system near Hawaii developed a short circuit six months after deployment, and another was damaged by fishing activity off the coast of Japan. Jeffrey Marlow, The New Yorker, 26 July 2022 While the cause of the fire on the Felicity Ace might never be known because the ship is lying at the bottom of the ocean, experts say there is a danger that batteries in electric cars can short circuit and catch fire. William Boston, WSJ, 1 Mar. 2022 There was no short circuit on an electrical device in his room. Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 10 June 2022 Senegal’s health minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, told local media the blaze appeared to have been caused by a short circuit, Reuters reported. Anisha Kukreja, NBC News, 26 May 2022 Sarr, who was was attending the World Health Assembly in Geneva, cut short his trip to return to Senegal and told Rfm that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. Babacar Dione, ajc, 30 May 2022 In 2019, a fire caused by an electrical short circuit engulfed a building in New Delhi and killed 43 people. Fox News, 14 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Verb
1867, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1854, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
short circuit
noun
: an electrical connection made between points in an electric circuit between which current does not normally flow
short-circuiting
verb
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- impeding
- hampering
- hindering
- obstructing
- embarrassing
- inhibiting
- handicapping
- delaying
- clogging
- disrupting
- stymieing
- restraining
- blocking
- handcuffing
- fettering
- constraining
- shackling
- cramping
- thwarting
- encumbering
- hog-tying
- trammelling
- hobbling
- trammeling
- frustrating
- curbing
- stifling
- holding back
- tying up
- retarding
- manacling
- binding
- braking
- checking
- cramping one's style
- interfering (with)
- sabotaging
- derailing
- reining
- barricading
- balking
- tying
- tieing up
- retaining
- strangling
- chaining
- baffling
- giving a hard time
- arresting
- blockading
- roadblocking
- smothering
- tethering
- confining
- choking
- holding up
- miring
- stumping
- suffocating
- suppressing
- muzzling
- foiling
- repressing
- tieing
- leashing
- haltering
- bogging (down)
- hemming (in)
- hedging (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- facilitating
- aiding
- assisting
- helping
- opening
- clearing
- freeing
- unplugging
- unclogging
- loosening
- liberating
- releasing
- smoothing
- unstopping
- promoting
- furthering
- encouraging
- making way
- untying
- untieing