short-handed vs understaffed

short-handed and understaffed both are adjectives.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
short-handed	No	Yes	No	No
understaffed	No	Yes	No	No

As adjectives, short-handed and understaffed are synonyms defined as:

short-handed and understaffed: inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.

Other synonyms of short-handed include short-staffed, undermanned.

short-handed (adjective)	understaffed (adjective)
inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.	inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.