"to deprive of or give less than something due: cheat"
So many people think they are being cheated when they stop smoking.
To believe one is being cheated by choosing to not smoke is addict thinking...illogical...irrational
Do you not comprehend that you can smoke anytime?
It's not giving up anything.
It's gaining everything, and, you can still smoke anytime you want because we always have the choice.
Now as to using shortchanged in a sentence
Hoggie approached this morning with a tail in his mouth. Just a tail.
"Hoggie was shortchanged."