bottleneck 1 of 3

noun

Definition of bottlenecknext
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

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bottleneck

2 of 3

adjective

as in linear

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

bottleneck

3 of 3

verb

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
Noun
This occurs when multiple ships arrive in a short window at a port, overwhelming terminal capacity and often leading to severe bottlenecks. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 July 2026 Local officials have attempted to overcome such bottlenecks by limiting street parking during red flag warnings and encouraging residents to preemptively evacuate. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 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
  1. jam
  2. linear
  3. dam
  4. congestion
  5. compressed
  6. clog
  7. tight
  8. hinder
Noun
  • The nearly 3,000-foot-long train was patiently idling beside the platform at East Perth Terminal, where a spread of scones, strawberry jam, clotted cream, and Bollinger champagne welcomed eager travelers.
    — Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • Cottage Kitchen offers preserves and spreads made from wild- and farm-sourced ingredients, like Chandler strawberry jam and hot-pepper jelly.
    — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Definition of jam
Adjective
  • 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.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
  • Yet, the transition from teenage phenom to professional mainstay has been anything but a linear ascent.
    — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of linear
Verb
  • The mighty Colorado River — that carved the Grand Canyon and was dammed by the epic Hoover Dam — is in big trouble.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of dam
Noun
  • More transit riders means less highway congestion and less pollution and emissions.
    — Pete Harrison, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026
  • What should be discussed is limiting the number of cars that come into Chicago, such as through a fee similar to what London has instituted, a congestion charge.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of congestion
Adjective
  • Under sustained acceleration, leadership teams frequently start operating within more compressed decision cycles where immediate demands dominate attention and time for reflection gradually shrinks.
    — ByPaul L. Gunn, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The compressed script and the snippety editing sometimes lead to unintended comedy, as in a scene where Maxine watches Christine, the seamstress, work.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 June 2026
Definition of compressed
Verb
  • Best lotion treatment Any treatment that contains lotion can weigh down hair and clog hair follicles, but don’t worry.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Mbappe struggled with limited vision and sweat clogging around his eyes.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of clog
Adjective
  • In a massive joint operation, US Central Command – with tight coordination from US Strategic Command, US Space Command, and the US Space Force – used electromagnetic warfare to blank out a massive area over Iran.
    — David Szondy July 06, New Atlas, 7 July 2026
  • In major competitions since Euro 1984 (including the UEFA Nations League), the contests have been tight affairs that have been decided by one goal or penalties.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of tight
Verb
  • Such realism, buttressed by frank discussions of perimenopause and other facts of midlife, helps rather than hinders the show’s ability to transport.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 July 2026
  • This offseason, Cullen revealed that Karlaftis broke his hand, which required surgery during the Week 10 bye and hindered him for the rest of the season.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
Definition of hinder

Browse Nearby Words

bottle-feeds
bottleneck
bottlenecked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bottleneck

Nglish: Translation of bottleneck for Spanish Speakers

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