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
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Recent Examples of bottleneck
Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
Compute and algorithms were also bottlenecked, but data was sort of right there with them.
—Harry Booth, Time, 22 June 2025
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025
And that should help both local drivers and the many bottlenecks that frustrate rail passengers here.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Adjective
Mimoun, who works in digital security, said his group eventually merged with other demonstrators and wound up bottlenecked by LAPD near the intersection of Temple and Alameda streets, where a stalemate with LAPD officers ensued.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
Compute and algorithms were also bottlenecked, but data was sort of right there with them.
—Harry Booth, Time, 22 June 2025
Verb
That matter spirals around the black hole, forming what’s called an accretion disk, and there’s so much matter that the accretion disk becomes a bottleneck.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025
And that should help both local drivers and the many bottlenecks that frustrate rail passengers here.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
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The sit-down was so named for the Japanese charcoal grill used in many courses, which included Japanese A5 Wagyu steak, edible floral arrangements of microgreens and crackling chicken-skin cones filled with foie gras and cloudberry jam.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Aug. 2025
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Its 6 fillings include hazelnut spread, pastry cream, pistachio spread, dark chocolate, apricot jam and mixed berry jam.—
Gary Stern,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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At present, the ratio is more in keeping with a 90/10 split in favor of linear TV.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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City’s attack became more linear, often seeking Haaland early or recycling possession to reset the build-up.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The project, which has been discussed for decades, would dam the Sulphur River, flooding tens of thousands of acres of ranchland, forest, pasture and wetlands in parts of Red River, Titus and Franklin counties.—
Eleanor Dearman
Updated August 15,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Aug. 2025
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However, a combination of overfishing, damming of rivers, and the insatiable European taste led to a decline in their population by the late 19th century.—
Tom Hawking,
Popular Science,
31 July 2025
Verb
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They may also be activated to break up groups of merging vehicles into merging lanes to stagger the arrival in case of accidents clogging the lanes or other events, like hurricane evacuations or even a presidential visit, that affect the flow of cars on the expressway lanes.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
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Drivers say with the absence of an emergency shoulder, wrecks and breakdowns clog the travel lanes, exacerbating traffic.—
Adrian Rodriguez,
Mercury News,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The rescue was made in an area that search teams had attempted to reach the day before, but were hindered by severe weather conditions.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Consumer experts as well as current and former CFPB employees, however, said the cuts will likely hinder the agency’s effectiveness.—
Joel Jacobs,
ProPublica,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For the next few years, as the World Wide Web emerged, websites were measured in kilobytes, images were small and compressed, and video was essentially impossible.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Aug. 2025
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Ultimately, your pitch deck is the compressed narrative of your ambition.—
Elena Volotovskaya,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Lunsford noted, however, that, due to Perseus appearing low on the horizon at this time, much of the meteor activity will be blocked from view.—
Gina Park,
CNN Money,
12 Aug. 2025
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The lawsuits, filed in Texas and Missouri, seek injunctions blocking the Justice Department and ATF from enforcing the NFA’s registration rules for firearms that no longer carry a tax.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Ward was arrested in Texas on June 12 and charged with assault on a family member by impeding breathing or circulation, which is a third-degree felony.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Sources claimed the suit could have impeded Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount, which requires approval from the FCC under the Trump administration.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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