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
If a team can accurately process 20 opportunities in a month and 40 arrive, capital markets can’t solve that bottleneck by announcing 20 more projects. — Shiva Dhawan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Advertisement Internal missteps have only tightened external bottlenecks. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 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
  • And for options that can please any giftee on your list, check out gourmet food calendars filled with decadent chocolates, loose-leaf teas, jams and jellies, and more.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Released digitally in March, the song grew out of a guitar jam between the two friends.
    — Russ Penuell, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of jam
Adjective
  • Today’s musical discoveries rarely happen in a linear fashion, and even teenagers are drawn to older songs alongside present-day releases, both in their way brand new.
    — Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The dropoff came amid a government overhaul of Italy’s tax credit system for indie producers and local audiences shifting from traditional linear TV broadcasters to emerging streaming platforms.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 22 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
  • Grid-enhancing technologies can raise transmission capacity, ease congestion, and improve the efficiency of existing assets.
    — Dr. Sarah Kapnick, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Finally, grab 18% off the TP-Link AXE75 Wi-Fi 6E Router, providing congestion-free tri-band speeds and low-latency performance.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of congestion
Adjective
  • Tesla says the thrusters are powered by compressed air, meaning the car can replenish its thrust capacity on-the-go.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The floor is made from compressed leather scraps produced during the brand’s manufacturing process.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of compressed
Verb
  • Pimples happen when tiny pores in the skin get clogged by oil, bacteria and dead skin cells.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of clog
Adjective
  • Certain oils can soften dry, flaky skin and help reduce moisture loss, which may be especially helpful if your scalp feels tight or dry after shampooing.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Republicans are fighting to hold on to the Texas Senate seat, as polls point to a tight race between Paxton and Democratic opponent James Talarico.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of tight
Verb
  • This method prevents nitrogen from diluting the exhaust gas, which hinders combustion and keeps the CO₂ concentration relatively low.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
  • New demarcations of Indigenous lands are expected to be frozen, under the argument that reserving territory hinders mining, agricultural expansion, and growth.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 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 24 Oct. 2026.

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