Shortchange

To deprive someone of something, especially money or goods, that they deserve or are entitled to; to provide an inadequate amount or level of something. It often implies deception, unfairness, or a lack of integrity in the transaction or interaction. The word is often used when someone receives less than expected in a financial deal, but it can be extended to other areas, such as a person receiving less attention or support than needed. The act typically causes resentment or disappointment in the individual being shortchanged.

Shortchange meaning with examples

• The online retailer significantly shortchanged its customers by shipping the wrong product and ignoring their customer support requests. The company’s poor service left buyers feeling cheated and undervalued. The public outcry on social media prompted a class action lawsuit to seek compensation for the numerous people shortchanged.
• The charity was shortchanged when the accounting firm drastically mismanaged donations. Consequently, essential programs suffered greatly and failed. This mismanagement undermined public trust and affected the organization's mission to help those in need. The scandal hurt countless people relying on support from that agency.
• During contract negotiations, the artist felt they were shortchanged by the record label, receiving a meager royalty percentage. The artist had hoped for a more equitable agreement, which was commensurate with the value their music brought. This situation led to a long legal battle and strained their creative partnership.
• The employee felt shortchanged by the management team because they were promised a raise. The employee never received the raise even though they were consistently exceeding performance expectations. It fostered a sense of injustice and the worker began exploring other opportunities which offered fairer compensation and recognition.
• The city was severely shortchanged by the construction company after renovations to the city pool were done. The company delivered subpar work which soon lead to expensive repairs, ultimately leading to the pool's temporary closure. The poor quality of work was a disservice to the community and a waste of taxpayer money.