Synonyms of tailback

tailback

noun

ˈtāl-ˌbak 

British

as in jam

a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement

stuck in a five-mile tailback on the southbound carriageway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jam
• congestion
• bottleneck
• snarl
• backup
• jam-up
• logjam
• traffic
• tangle
• gridlock
• delay
• lock
• tie-up
• stoppage
• slowdown
• crawl

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tailback

That should allow star running back De’Von Achane to find space to scoot around the edge, or for rotational tailbacks Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II to pound it along the left side. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2026

The 27-year-old tailback was the Broncos’ offensive MVP over the first 10 weeks of a wild, wacky 2025. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 June 2026

The Pro Bowl tailback faces five charges, including a felony count of strangulation and suffocation, along with misdemeanor counts of battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and intimidation of a victim. — Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

At the time, USC had 18 Black players on its roster, including at the crucial quarterback and tailback positions—no small thing, in an era when the prevailing stereotype dictated that Black players weren’t smart enough or good-enough leaders to play quarterback. — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026