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
Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 7 May 2025
The immigration courts are bottlenecked with 3.7 million pending cases.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Josh T. Smith, National Review, 19 June 2025
Looking for bottlenecks in speed, scale, scope and sophistication provides a framework for understanding where AI provides value, and equally where the unique capabilities of the human species give us an enduring advantage.
—Bruce Schneier, The Conversation, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Adjective
Many decisions at the CDC are now bottlenecked for HHS approvals, multiple officials said.
—Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 7 May 2025
The immigration courts are bottlenecked with 3.7 million pending cases.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
The real bottleneck to nuclear progress in America isn’t a lack of federal financing.
—Josh T. Smith, National Review, 19 June 2025
Looking for bottlenecks in speed, scale, scope and sophistication provides a framework for understanding where AI provides value, and equally where the unique capabilities of the human species give us an enduring advantage.
—Bruce Schneier, The Conversation, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
-
And the jam—of course, the jam: the product As ever is perhaps most known for is back, but not in the raspberry flavor that was sold in April.—
Rachel Burchfield,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
Products in As ever’s first ever drop included flower sprinkles, cookies, jam and more.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Rethink The Funnel: Trust The Educated Buyer Traditional sales funnels are linear.—
Leonard Cercone,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
In addition to interviews with a slew of famous celebrities, from Lucille Ball and Gilda Radner to Mel Brooks and Muhammad Ali, several of the episodes being added will also include their original musical performances — a rarity with classic talk and variety shows on streaming or even linear TV.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
The Santa Ana River was temporarily dammed once in 1996 for a jet ski competition.—
Michael Slaten,
Oc Register,
23 June 2025
-
To solve it, the canal authority has now landed on a plan to dam the nearby Río Indio to create a new reservoir.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The employee restroom lacked paper towels, the sink was clogged and the soap dispenser was on the floor.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
27 June 2025
-
Yes, but at least Dr.B doesn’t clog up my inbox by sending emails every other day.—
Emily Cegielski,
Flow Space,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
However, rather than hindering its movement, this feature is actually an adaptation that enhances its ability to survive in a diverse range of North American habitats.—
Smithsonian magazine,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 June 2025
-
And continuing to avoid important financial conversations when a child returns home as an adult can further hinder a boomerang child's ability to navigate future financial decisions, Gonzalez says.—
Natalie Wu,
CNBC,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Bottle Rocket began its life as a 13-minute short film shot in black and white, that is essentially a compressed version of the movie's first act.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
18 June 2025
-
The ball can be easily popped out for cleaning using a soft cloth or compressed air.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
15 June 2025
Verb
-
In April, the Trump administration implemented new regulations that blocked sales of Nvidia’s H20 AI chip, which had been designed to comply with earlier restrictions.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
26 June 2025
-
Dishes that are stacked too closely together, are nested (think bowls and spoons), or blocked by larger items may not be fully cleaned and rinsed.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
The indictment, announced earlier this month, accuses McIver of three counts: two felonies for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers—each carrying up to eight years in prison—and a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
-
This month she was indicted on three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share