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
Relevance
as in linear
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in to dam
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bottleneck
Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams,
STAT,
19 June 2026
The bottleneck in physical AI isn't intelligence.
—
Robert J. Szczerba,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Olivia Hsu,
IEEE Spectrum,
28 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Noun
The deeper issue is a training bottleneck — and a misalignment between where doctors are trained and where they are needed.
—
Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams,
STAT,
19 June 2026
The bottleneck in physical AI isn't intelligence.
—
Robert J. Szczerba,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
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
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
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
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Crawford also doubled to lead off the sixth, but Chandler worked his way out of that jam, striking out both Turner and Kyle Schwarber, then retiring Harper on a soft grounder to second.
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Others may step in when a package jams, a label fails to scan or a pallet needs human attention.
Adjective
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What used to be a linear process of planning, booking and experiencing has become something far more fluid.
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For those of you who remember linear television, the four broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, and CBS) would start a new season of their major TV series in the fall, and wrap them up before summer starts.
Verb
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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.
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Morris grew up along the White River (a portion of which was dammed to create today’s Table Rock Lake) in the Ozarks, where fishing wasn’t just a pastime but a way of life.
Noun
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Atlanta companies and commuters have adapted to the inevitable traffic and congestion of the World Cup, finding ways to keep business flowing smoothly while allowing their employees to experience a unique opportunity.
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Representatives with the Fort Worth Transportation and Public Works Department met with residents in April to get input and review multiple solutions to the corridor’s congestion problem.
Adjective
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With harvest windows more compressed, the freshness once taken for granted has to be defended more rigorously.
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Yes, there are similarities between two workplace series where a season takes place over a compressed period of time.
Verb
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Motorists will clog metro Atlanta’s major highways with typical to heavy traffic over the next few days, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
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The freshwater mollusk, first spotted in North America in the Delta in 2024, threatens water systems by clogging pipes and altering the food web.
Adjective
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With life spent largely on transit, navigating tight layovers, and using their days off to jet-set across the globe, flight attendants have mastered the art of packing.
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Polls overall anticipate a tight race, including a June 19 survey by the news site Zeteo showing DeGette trailing Kiros 41% to 36%.
Verb
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Officials said Friday that a group of 50 volunteers had joined the effort to look for Kinney along the banks of the lake, adding that on-and-off rain hindered the search, according to WSAZ.
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Soaking cherry seeds helps remove the pulp, preventing rot that can hinder germination.
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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