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.
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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
-
The goal, according to Western analysts, was to listen in on or potentially jam signals relayed through these satellites, some of which route secure communications for US and NATO military forces.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
-
Wilson fanned the last batter to get out of the jam and finish with at least one strikeout in every inning.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Spider-Noir will debut on MGM+'s linear channel, and the entire series will be available on Prime Video.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
Inside there’s a full 15-foot coil of linear LED which can be removed and replaced — simpler than changing a tire.—
Anthony Paletta,
Curbed,
17 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
-
Similar artificial intelligence legislation had failed in previous years due to concerns from the governor’s office that regulations would hinder innovation in the state.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
De-escalate the Crisis Narrative The word crisis is splashed across every headline regarding mental health, but Redding warns that overusing this term can actually hinder our ability to help.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some are negotiating compressed workweeks to reduce commuting days.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Todeschini also tested this version by launching a scale model of the dart from a tube using compressed gas.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The affidavit states that Dunmars parked in front of Hayes’ vehicle, partially blocking her path, before a physical fight allegedly broke out involving Dunmars’ daughter and two of Hayes’ daughters.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
The big guy in the doorway stretched out his arms, his hands gripping both sides of the knotty pine planks on either side of the door frame, his body filling the space, blocking our way out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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