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
Diesel fuel has been setting nominal record highs – an aftereffect of rising global oil prices as well as a supply bottleneck from refineries damaged by the wars in Ukraine and Iran. — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 To cut the flow would only add to the bottlenecks that the wars have created. — Arkansas Online, 6 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
  • The Guardians had a runner on first with one out in the third when second baseman Ben Williamson robbed DeLauter of a hit that prevented a first-and-third jam.
    — Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Besides her own headlining set, karaoke queen Clarkson is sure to be asked to stick around for the festival’s traditional closing night jam of all-1990s covers.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of jam
Adjective
  • Additionally, the new streamlined structure with Perrette across both linear and streaming business ops makes for simplified and expedited decision-making.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
  • So that meant having somebody with a strong streaming platform as well as a linear television network.
    — Paul Grein, Billboard, 9 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
  • Each new batch of Imax tickets brought congestion on CGV’s servers, followed by fresh sellouts.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The earthquake also triggered massive traffic congestion as thousands of people attempted to return home.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of congestion
Adjective
  • The nation’s communications regulatory body would have to act within a compressed schedule to grant the waiver in time to affect the midterm elections.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • How Hydrodissection Works for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome The goal of hydrodissection for carpal tunnel syndrome is to allow greater movement for the compressed median nerve.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of compressed
Verb
  • 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
  • Some oils can also be comedogenic and clog the follicle, which gets in the way of growth.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of clog
Adjective
  • Lee said that under tight budgets and schedules, those scenes would normally have had to be dropped.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But Cook also warned on that call that tight supply would weigh on iPhone, Mac, and iPad sales in the months ahead.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of tight
Verb
  • The chair of Fayette County Democrats, Tracy Wilson, said the Uniontown Police Department is already short-staffed and underfunded and believes the program could hinder officers from answering calls.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Celebrity guests accompany the contestants, ideally helping and not hindering them, to an all-or-nothing final, where one test decides everything, including the true identity of the player.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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