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
IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026
But Hormuz is not the only bottleneck.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Given their constraints, the most plausible near-term roles are simple, repetitive, or hazardous tasks in structured spaces, moving totes, staging parts, and monitoring routine operations, where their slower pace or limited dexterity won’t bottleneck the entire line.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Noun
But that data is a bottleneck, right?
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026
But Hormuz is not the only bottleneck.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
The real-world difference is how snappy everything feels when your storage doesn’t bottleneck your system.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Given their constraints, the most plausible near-term roles are simple, repetitive, or hazardous tasks in structured spaces, moving totes, staging parts, and monitoring routine operations, where their slower pace or limited dexterity won’t bottleneck the entire line.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
-
Offerings have since expanded to include homemade jams, dog treats, soaps and, of course, bread.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Rockies took their second lead on Brett Sullivan’s leadoff double in the 11th before Jeremiah Estrada and Morgan worked out of that jam.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Scrambling isn’t a linear project.—
Matt K. Lewis,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Charter has in several recent negotiations won access to streaming counterparts of its linear networks.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
According to the Lake Garda Improvement Association, in the 1920s Harry Battistoni bought small farms along the Burlington/Farmington border, dammed up a small brook, and created Lake Garda.—
Chris John Amorosino,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Tenuously held back by moraines – the jumble of rock and sediment deposited by glaciers at their edges – or dammed by glacier ice, these lakes are anything but stable.—
Dan McGrath,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Resurfacing and Sculpting treatment shaved years off of my skin’s appearance (and all of its New York City congestion) in a matter of 60 minutes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Pollution reduction, congestion reduction, improved safety, comfort, reliability.—
Jon Wertheim,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the conservancy’s Rosemont Preserve, volunteers have essentially removed all invasive castor bean, arundo (which clogs streams) and tree tobacco, which crowd out native plants and harm the landscape.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Longer is better, especially if the head is severely clogged, so aim to leave it overnight if possible.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Crowfoot said the state’s ongoing efforts are also helping to restore vital tidal habitats and remove barriers that hinder fish migration.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The tension between baseball ops and Bob Melvin and Shildt’s disdain for input and feedback hindered this communication process the past four seasons.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Such deadlines lend themselves to compressed frenzies of activity.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
CEOs are expected to create significant value in compressed timeframes, meet aggressive growth targets, and navigate a minefield of internal and external pressures.—
Samantha Allison,
Harvard Business Review,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Joel Eriksson Ek blocked a shot by Dallas defender Miro Heiskanen, only to have the puck roll up Eriksson Ek’s stick and hit the Wild center in the face.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this week, Nunley heard arguments on whether to grant the plaintiffs a permanent injunction, which would block the merger indefinitely.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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