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

The company says the adaptable production system is already capable of producing hundreds of solid rocket motors annually and is designed to increase manufacturing speed while reducing production bottlenecks. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026 In some regions, a single medical examiner may oversee hundreds of deaths each year, leading to bottlenecks that can slow criminal cases, complicate insurance claims, and leave families waiting months and sometimes years for answers. — Gregory McDonald, STAT, 13 July 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

Dallas is in a difficult salary-cap jam — sitting a little more than $1 million over the limit after this signing — and getting Robertson signed to a long-term commitment would have meant a higher cap hit and cuts elsewhere.

— Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Mederos, a right-hander, came on with two outs and the tying run on third and got out of that jam.

— Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of jam

Adjective

Nolan's non-linear storytelling and minimal exposition challenge some, yet the visual grandeur and powerful performances, including Anne Hathaway's Penelope and a diverse ensemble, are undeniable.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
These approaches can involve developing what are called impact-response functions, which track the non-linear relationship between the severity of an event and its impact.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026

Definition of linear

Verb

And although bipartisan Congressional efforts have pushed back on some of the deepest cuts, damage was still done, damming the flow of funding, halting experiments, delaying new research, and impeding the work of scientists worldwide.

— Eric Schmidt, Time, 16 July 2026
The mighty Colorado River — that carved the Grand Canyon and was dammed by the epic Hoover Dam — is in big trouble.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of dam

Noun

But Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton both slid into the paint as well, not doubling to the point of leaving their shooters open, but creating congestion.

— Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Road use would be charged for every square-foot-second used, at a rate which varies based on levels of congestion on the roads.

— Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of congestion

Adjective

In its reporting, Curbed attributed many of those conditions to what contractors described as a compressed timeline leading up to the museum’s opening.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 18 July 2026
Under his watch almost three years ago, FIFA unexpectedly announced a compressed bidding timeline for the 2034 World Cup, giving countries less than a month to submit expressions of interest.

— Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026

Definition of compressed

Verb

Golden mussels reproduce rapidly, forming dense colonies on underwater surfaces that can clog pipes, pumps and critical water infrastructure while disrupting local ecosystems.

— Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026
Puddles and wet debris can clog or damage your Roomba as well.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Definition of clog

Adjective

Slots and gates are valuable in congested airports like LaGuardia because tight airspace restrictions and crowded airports in a big city like New York cap airline growth.

— Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 20 July 2026
Her tight smile squeezes tiny tears into the corners of her eyes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026

Definition of tight

Browse Nearby Words

bottle-feeds

bottleneck

bottlenecked

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of bottleneck

noun

adjective

verb

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