bottleneck 1 of 3

noun

Definition of bottlenecknext
as in jam
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement a bottleneck inevitably forms at the start of a construction zone when the highway narrows from three to two lanes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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bottleneck

2 of 3

adjective

as in linear

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

bottleneck

3 of 3

verb

as in to dam

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bottleneck
Noun
The new crossing could ease bottlenecks on an aging bridge that carries more than 70% of official trade between the neighbors, though a sharp near-term trade increase is unlikely. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 In the event of a severe winter or import bottlenecks, depressed storage levels not only narrow Europe's capacity to absorb supply shocks but also risk driving natural gas prices higher. — CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
The demand for slots skyrocketed and the auction prices ballooned in recent weeks as a standoff between the Iran and the United States over access to the strait kept traffic bottlenecked. — Alma Solís, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026 Yet, sparse computations on the CPU are often bottlenecked by the indirect lookups used to find nonzero data. — Olivia Hsu, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
  1. jam
  2. linear
  3. dam
  4. congestion
  5. compressed
  6. clog
  7. tight
  8. hinder
Noun
  • The Guardians had a runner on first with one out in the third when second baseman Ben Williamson robbed DeLauter of a hit that prevented a first-and-third jam.
    — Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Besides her own headlining set, karaoke queen Clarkson is sure to be asked to stick around for the festival’s traditional closing night jam of all-1990s covers.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of jam
Adjective
  • Positioning the commercial arm of the 100-year-old BBC for a streaming future while managing the traditional linear channels that still do great business in many international territories.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Unlike Netflix, Disney is wrestling with the ongoing deterioration of linear TV.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of linear
Verb
  • Then dams and expanding farmlands dried it up and turned it into a patchwork of fields, roads and towns.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Mormon Flat, which dams Canyon Lake, was constructed in 1925, and is one of SRP’s oldest dams.
    — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of dam
Noun
  • Each new batch of Imax tickets brought congestion on CGV’s servers, followed by fresh sellouts.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The earthquake also triggered massive traffic congestion as thousands of people attempted to return home.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of congestion
Adjective
  • The nation’s communications regulatory body would have to act within a compressed schedule to grant the waiver in time to affect the midterm elections.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • How Hydrodissection Works for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome The goal of hydrodissection for carpal tunnel syndrome is to allow greater movement for the compressed median nerve.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of compressed
Verb
  • The slip-ons have a clog-like feel, but the low-profile silhouette looks so luxurious—honestly, they could be mistaken for The Row.
    — Melony Forcier, InStyle, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Some oils can also be comedogenic and clog the follicle, which gets in the way of growth.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of clog
Adjective
  • Lee said that under tight budgets and schedules, those scenes would normally have had to be dropped.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But Cook also warned on that call that tight supply would weigh on iPhone, Mac, and iPad sales in the months ahead.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of tight
Verb
  • And warming temperatures are hindering their ability to perform essential functions.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Royce Moser, 18, is facing charges including murder, while his mother, 56-year-old Rachel Moser, is facing charges including hindering apprehension of a fugitive, according to court records.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of hinder

Browse Nearby Words

bottle-feeds
bottleneck
bottlenecked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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