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
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
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
Under the previous setup, customers would order at the counter and then wait there for their food, often creating a bottleneck for people trying to buy gas station essentials like chips, beer or a lottery ticket.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
Alma Solís, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The real-world difference is how snappy everything feels when your storage doesn’t bottleneck your system.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Noun
The expansion followed numerous complaints from American shippers in the wake of global supply chain bottlenecks throughout 2021 and 2022, who had alleged that container shipping companies were bypassing them for service and charging them excessive late fees.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
Under the previous setup, customers would order at the counter and then wait there for their food, often creating a bottleneck for people trying to buy gas station essentials like chips, beer or a lottery ticket.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 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
The real-world difference is how snappy everything feels when your storage doesn’t bottleneck your system.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
-
Press’d also offers a variety of sandwiches and sourdough toasts like the Coastline Melt (panini with ham, gouda cheese, sliced tomatoes, hot peach jam and signature sauce on a focaccia bread; $12) and the Avo Deluxe (avocado, cherry tomatoes, balsamic drizzle, everything seasoning; $11).—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
-
Escaping the jam in the first was a huge momentum lift, aided by a clutch play from Hebert at third place to throw out a runner trying to score on a one-out ground ball to her.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The pair say their grief journeys are not linear, requiring effort every day — sometimes just to get out of bed.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
Remember, grief isn’t linear and emotional triggers can come up unexpectedly, Feinglos said.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The water, too, was wild—the Allegheny and its tributaries had yet to be dammed, and Flag Swamp was noted as one of the last hideouts for beavers in the state.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
Morris grew up along the White River (a portion of which was dammed to create today’s Table Rock Lake) in the Ozarks, where fishing wasn’t just a pastime but a way of life.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The Bay Area Host Committee urges drivers to plan for extra time and heavy congestion before and after matches.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
-
Skin lacking vitamin A gets dry, rough, and more prone to congestion.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Cities and counties with little experience as real-estate developers were suddenly tasked with managing complex acquisitions and renovations under compressed timelines.—
Michele Steeb,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
The tabs, known as Tablì, are made of compressed ground coffee and can only be used with a Lavazza Tablì coffee machine.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Regular cleaning will help keep them from clogging and prolong their life.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
-
But that would be risky because a new deal could clog Miami’s cap, eliminating potential max salary cap space next summer unless Miami can find a taker for Jovic’s extension.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
The 7th Assembly District produced one of the region’s tightest races.—
Evelyn Ronan,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
Pelvic floor disorders can occur when these muscles and tissues are too weak or too tight or don’t facilitate the proper functioning of these organs for other reasons.—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
As President Cyril Ramaphosa deploys soldiers and orders probes into police corruption, widespread allegations of collusion with syndicates deepen residents’ mistrust and hinder investigations into such brazen attacks.—
Michelle Gumede,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
More than four years since the start of Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine, the more than 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line has remained largely static as swarms of drones hinder advances.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
