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, 8 May 2026
Among the biggest bottlenecks right now is securing enough capacity at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. , the world's most advanced third-party chipmaker, to have your product made and packaged.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 7 May 2026
Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2025
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 Biden-era legislation was enacted after various American businesses had complaints over being bypassed for service by carriers, or being charged excessive late fees throughout the heavy supply chain bottlenecks throughout 2021 and 2022.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
Among the biggest bottlenecks right now is securing enough capacity at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. , the world's most advanced third-party chipmaker, to have your product made and packaged.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 7 May 2026
Verb
The executive order cites a Nov. 21 power outage at the unnamed facility which continues to operate intermittently, which bottlenecks fuel deliveries across the region.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2025
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
-
Next, slice up the second loaf of pound cake, adding raspberry jam to each slice.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 May 2026
-
As fans of the British royal family might already know, Queen Elizabeth loved a jam sandwich herself.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rodrigues explained YouTube Brasil currently has other linear channels, such as SBT, one of the top three free-to-air networks in the country, and DiaTV, an indie channel of Dia Estúdio that aggregates entertainment shows hosted by Brazilian creators.—
Marcelo Cajueiro,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
There are entire, enormous platforms whose contours are unknown to the average person under 40, just as there are millions of teens and 20-somethings who watch more video on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram than on linear or even streaming TV.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asked experts to study what happened at the Edenville and Sanford dams.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Then, about 20,000 years ago the Laurentide continental glacier moved into the area, pushing rocks, soil, and other debris, eventually damming Pine Creek and forming an expansive lake.—
Anthony Fredericks,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The largest area of congestion predicted in Georgia is from Atlanta to Augusta along I-20E, particularly Thursday evening.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
-
My proposal would not only reduce traffic on Peña but would also serve to reduce congestion at the terminal and could be implemented almost immediately at very low cost.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Emergency vehicles were unable to quickly reach the incident because nearby streets were clogged with crowds and vehicles.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
The combination of a sunscreen that is formulated with heavy, pore-clogging ingredients mixed with oil, makeup, dirt, and dead skin cells can cause blockages in your pores, which can result in the formation of acne.—
Abby Dupes,
StyleCaster,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Current dependence on rare earth elements or precious metals often hinders the widespread adoption of electrolysis systems.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
-
Response efforts in the DRC have been hindered by budget strains at the WHO — which the US left this year — as well as sudden Western aid cuts to Africa.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
The piece broadens again into a compressed history of the war, and the rise of a dictator in part because of complicity and disregard.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Stefano Pozzi took the children on a tour of the Zodiac garage and stopped a Zodiac excursion to pull in a piece of ice so the kids could see compressed air trapped inside, taste it, and use it to cool their steaming cups of cocoa.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Teräväinen, 31, was inches from blocking the airborne puck that Connor McDavid passed to Nathan MacKinnon for the winning goal that sent Canada past Finland and into the gold-medal game.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
The ruling now adds new complications to a parallel legal fight before Xinis, where the administration is seeking to dissolve her injunction blocking Abrego Garcia’s swift deportation if he is released from custody.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
