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Definitions

short-handed

[shawrt-han-did] / ˈʃɔrtˈhæn dɪd /
ADJECTIVE
understaffed
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was also hard to fill open jobs after the pandemic, and businesses don’t want to get caught short-handed again.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes, so forcing a team to play short-handed could compel remaining employees to find productivity hacks faster than they otherwise would have.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Center Deandre Ayton held down a short-handed big man rotation with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

The Houston Rockets, fueled by Alperen Sengun's triple-double and some timely baskets from superstar Kevin Durant, rallied to beat the short-handed NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder 112-106 on Saturday.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

Rufino was our driver, since Jaimito, short-handed, couldn’t take time off from the cacao harvest.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez




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