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
Roy Stephen Canivel,
Footwear News,
2 July 2026
One with access to that operational knowledge can prioritize inventory, anticipate bottlenecks and adapt as conditions change.
—
Ashutosh Saxena,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
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
Noun
Although regulatory barriers and equipment bottlenecks were also identified as headwinds, neither of them was bad enough to cancel ongoing or proposed projects.
—
Roy Stephen Canivel,
Footwear News,
2 July 2026
One with access to that operational knowledge can prioritize inventory, anticipate bottlenecks and adapt as conditions change.
—
Ashutosh Saxena,
Forbes.com,
2 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
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Crawford also doubled to lead off the sixth, but Chandler worked his way out of that jam, striking out both Turner and Kyle Schwarber, then retiring Harper on a soft grounder to second.
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Others may step in when a package jams, a label fails to scan or a pallet needs human attention.
Adjective
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For brides drawn to the cleaner, portrait‑style elegance seen in Sperling’s wedding gown, Wickstead offered parallel lines in Italian duchesse and silk mikado with off‑the‑shoulder necklines, elongated torsos and linear trains.
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Yet, the transition from teenage phenom to professional mainstay has been anything but a linear ascent.
Verb
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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.
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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.
Noun
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Atlanta companies and commuters have adapted to the inevitable traffic and congestion of the World Cup, finding ways to keep business flowing smoothly while allowing their employees to experience a unique opportunity.
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Representatives with the Fort Worth Transportation and Public Works Department met with residents in April to get input and review multiple solutions to the corridor’s congestion problem.
Adjective
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With harvest windows more compressed, the freshness once taken for granted has to be defended more rigorously.
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Yes, there are similarities between two workplace series where a season takes place over a compressed period of time.
Verb
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Motorists will clog metro Atlanta’s major highways with typical to heavy traffic over the next few days, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.
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The freshwater mollusk, first spotted in North America in the Delta in 2024, threatens water systems by clogging pipes and altering the food web.
Adjective
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With life spent largely on transit, navigating tight layovers, and using their days off to jet-set across the globe, flight attendants have mastered the art of packing.
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Polls overall anticipate a tight race, including a June 19 survey by the news site Zeteo showing DeGette trailing Kiros 41% to 36%.
Verb
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He was charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence in connection with this case.
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The Great American State Fair kicked off last week, though the 16-day event has been hindered by weather shutdowns, technical difficulties and low attendance.
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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