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

On Sunrise Highway, also known as New York State Route 27, in Suffolk County, where three lanes merge into two in Patchogue, the bottlenecks are year-round. — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026 Persistent bottlenecks include the complexity and daunting list of materials and the recruitment of skilled labor to build them. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 15 Sep. 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

Raspberry jam oozed from between the layers like sticky blood.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
His antitrust lawsuit, filed in collaboration with 11 other Democratic state attorneys general, has since stalled the largest Hollywood merger in decades and put Ellison in a jam.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of jam

Adjective

In non-linear lyric forms, the following collections braid love’s ruthless endings with its tenderest beginnings.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
As with linear ratings for broadcast and cable shows, Nielsen won’t publicly offer up daily streaming numbers.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of linear

Adjective

Daniel West’s adaptation hits the major plot points and select lines of dialogue, but has typically, unavoidably, been streamlined and compressed.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
In the more compressed idiom of three-act-movie storytelling, this chapter would represent the end of act two, when all hope appears lost.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of compressed

Verb

Between the konbini walkthroughs, snack hauls and taste-test rankings clogging your For You page, a bag of chips has quietly become a reason to book a flight.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians monitors water quality for algal blooms and cleans up spawning creeks that get clogged with sediment and trash.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of clog

Adjective

Kevin Jairaj / Imagn Images During an early August practice, Hurts was unusually expressive after completing a deep pass down the middle to Elijah Moore in tight coverage.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Room for Disagreement Some Democrats were worried less about their individual candidates or the DCCC’s ability to compete, and more about the Democratic National Committee’s ability to help candidates in tight raises.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of tight

Verb

The researchers said as warming winters bring more precipitation as rain and less as snow, that could hinder efforts to replenish groundwater.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
However, in a person with PCD, those threadlike structures can beat abnormally, hindering airway clearance and contributing to recurrent respiratory infections.

— Molly Finlay, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of hinder

Browse Nearby Words

bottle-feeds

bottleneck

bottlenecked

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bottleneck

noun

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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Cite this Entry

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