BOTTLENECK Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

bottleneck 1 of 3

noun

Definition of bottleneck

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 company says the adaptable production system is already capable of producing hundreds of solid rocket motors annually and is designed to increase manufacturing speed while reducing production bottlenecks. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026 In some regions, a single medical examiner may oversee hundreds of deaths each year, leading to bottlenecks that can slow criminal cases, complicate insurance claims, and leave families waiting months and sometimes years for answers. — Gregory McDonald, STAT, 13 July 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

Noun

Plain deviled eggs are served with a side of pickled vegetables, bacon jam and black pepper.

— Justin Brown, AJC.com, 12 July 2026
Scott notes that while the flesh of the Hawthorn berry is fully edible and commonly used to make jams and jellies, consuming large quantities of whole berries can be harmful as the seeds contain toxic cyanogenic glycosides.

— SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026

Definition of jam

Adjective

The more Lal describes Lucero this way, the more everything non-linear about its development makes sense — and Lal himself starts to look less like an accidental developer and more like someone who always belonged here in the first place.

— Peter Lane Taylor, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
That’s a linear park that Hialeah wants to create on the narrow strip of land that runs for nearly a mile under the county’s Metrorail tracks between Fourth Avenue and the Hialeah Tri-Rail Station.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

Definition of linear

Verb

The mighty Colorado River — that carved the Grand Canyon and was dammed by the epic Hoover Dam — is in big trouble.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
The water, too, was wild—the Allegheny and its tributaries had yet to be dammed, and Flag Swamp was noted as one of the last hideouts for beavers in the state.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026

Definition of dam

Noun

Burk said other improvements are needed on the east side of Albertsons Stadium first, specifically with the concourse to address overcrowding and fan congestion.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2026
And why are these bicycle lanes being put on busy streets where there is already congestion?

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026

Definition of congestion

Adjective

Under sustained acceleration, leadership teams frequently start operating within more compressed decision cycles where immediate demands dominate attention and time for reflection gradually shrinks.

— ByPaul L. Gunn, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
The compressed script and the snippety editing sometimes lead to unintended comedy, as in a scene where Maxine watches Christine, the seamstress, work.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 June 2026

Definition of compressed

Verb

Extensive clinical and user trials have found that the topical helps skin appear smoother, cuts back on fine lines and wrinkles like crow’s feet, alleviates redness, and doesn’t clog pores all the while.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 14 July 2026
On top of this, subterranean drip systems often clog with mineral deposits, sediment, and algae, which Nad warns may eventually require repairs or replacement of portions of the system, particularly in areas with hard water or poor filtration.

— Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 13 July 2026

Definition of clog

Adjective

Despite persistent inflation and tighter household budgets, Bankrate analyst Alex Gailey says even small financial adjustments can make a meaningful difference over time.

— Bonnie Laden, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Pilots are launching into a bottleneck already packed with ferries, commercial vessels, and tour boats, while sharing tight overhead airspace with NYPD, news, and helicopters, often with limited visibility.

— Janet Handal, New York Daily News, 13 July 2026

Definition of tight

Browse Nearby Words

bottle-feeds

bottleneck

bottlenecked

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Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of bottleneck

noun

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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Cite this Entry

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