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
Stephanie Krikorian, Curbed, 23 June 2025
Compute and algorithms were also bottlenecked, but data was sort of right there with them.
—Harry Booth, Time, 22 June 2025
Kari Cobham, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
However, there is a problem that isn't so much a barrier as a nasty bottleneck.
—New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Adjective
Tory Burch, Brooke Shields, Leon Black, Michael Bloomberg, Wilbur Ross, and Howard Stern.
Noteworthy for being the point at which Eastbound traffic gets bottlenecked on a summer Friday where Route 27 crosses Mill Creek.
—Stephanie Krikorian, Curbed, 23 June 2025
Compute and algorithms were also bottlenecked, but data was sort of right there with them.
—Harry Booth, Time, 22 June 2025
Verb
Documenting workflows and sharing access lets your team move seamlessly, preventing bottlenecks and burnout.
—Kari Cobham, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
However, there is a problem that isn't so much a barrier as a nasty bottleneck.
—New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
-
Trailing by three runs, Cora gave the ball to left-hander Justin Wilson, who struck out three straight Diamondbacks to escape the jam and keep his team in the game.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Our Cal-Italia pizza is a white pizza with fig jam, aged balsamic and Prosciutto di Parma.—
Liza B. Zimmerman,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Lee will lead the team responsible for acquiring TV series and feature films for publication on BBC iPlayer and the BBC’s linear channels.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
2 Sep. 2025
-
So a network that airs the Super Bowl or an awards telecast will be able to give a sense of the audience for the event, even if the bulk of that number will likely hinge on linear viewing.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The avalanche temporarily dammed the Lonza River, which runs through Blatten, and small lakes, filled with dead trees and detritus from homes, formed on each side of the village.—
Daniel A. Gross,
New Yorker,
27 Aug. 2025
-
The authors further emphasize that behaviors such as waterfall climbing may be especially vulnerable to environmental pressures, including habitat fragmentation and river damming.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Hamos further touted job creation, congestion reduction, downstate transit assistance and focus on accessibility as key outcomes of the legislation.—
Lou Sandoval,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Motorists near the Exit 81 ramp at State Route 10 may see some congestion as crews work to lengthen and widen the exit, according to TDOT spokesperson Erin Zeigler.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Formulated for normal to dry skin, this gentle daily facial cleanser transforms from a silky oil to a soft, lathering foam that deeply cleanses your skin, effectively removing dirt, excess oil and stubborn makeup without clogging pores, leaving residue or a greasy feeling.—
Adam Mills,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
On social media, this means not clogging followers’ feeds with off-topic content.—
Matteo Atti,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Alternatively, overly conservative limits may hinder essential remediation measures.—
Perry Carpenter,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The deployment appeared to be the first time in decades that a state’s national guard was activated without a request from its governor, a significant escalation against those who have sought to hinder the administration’s mass deportation efforts.—
OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The regulatory overhang was essentially the only thing keeping that multiple compressed.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
And then my swing is a compressed swing.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Congress previously voted to repeal the law, but then-President Joe Biden blocked the repeal with a presidential veto.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, such bills have been introduced repeatedly over the past three decades, only to be blocked time and again by Netanyahu and others.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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