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
Eliza Terziev, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
Despite the extra fees and runway bottlenecks, the allure of witnessing the world’s most popular sporting contests shows no signs of waning.
—Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2026
Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Given their constraints, the most plausible near-term roles are simple, repetitive, or hazardous tasks in structured spaces, moving totes, staging parts, and monitoring routine operations, where their slower pace or limited dexterity won’t bottleneck the entire line.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Noun
While state lawmakers have acknowledged this bottleneck by passing a series of workarounds and exemptions, the California Environmental Quality Act remains fundamentally misaligned with the goals of increasing housing supply and leaves the door open to lawsuits against new projects.
—Eliza Terziev, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
Despite the extra fees and runway bottlenecks, the allure of witnessing the world’s most popular sporting contests shows no signs of waning.
—Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
The real-world difference is how snappy everything feels when your storage doesn’t bottleneck your system.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Given their constraints, the most plausible near-term roles are simple, repetitive, or hazardous tasks in structured spaces, moving totes, staging parts, and monitoring routine operations, where their slower pace or limited dexterity won’t bottleneck the entire line.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
-
Wexler induced a groundball to second as the Cobras defense turned a double play to escape the jam.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The outing wasn’t free of some jams, but Wright worked out of them with poise.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Xavier Legette was fast in the NFL Scouting Combine in 2024 but hasn’t been able to showcase that linear speed much in his two years in the NFL.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Apr. 2026
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Two double balance wheels inclined at 30 degrees dominate the lower half, with the upper half featuring a subdial for the running seconds, a four-minute indicator for the differential that supplies power to the two balances, and a linear power display.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
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Crews will dam the water directly under the Pump House to complete foundation work, and the area around the structure will be closed off.—
Megan Rodriguez,
San Antonio Express-News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The intersection is part of a notorious traffic bottleneck that can delay westbound rush hour motorists 15 minutes a day or more, but the house stands slightly above the road and drivers in heavy stop-and-go congestion rarely seem to notice it.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
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The closure has forced drivers onto detour routes, leading to heavy congestion for those trying to reach the East Bay, including Oakland and Berkeley.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The labels bore a photo of the vast sea of blossoms that once carpeted the Valley, now clogged with crowded freeways.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
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Pennies languished between couch cushions and on closet floors, clogging vacuum cleaners and landfills.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rams boss Les Snead and Chiefs leadership tandem Andy Reid and Brett Veach don’t seem hindered by obstacles either, despite later draft slots and paying future Hall of Fame quarterbacks.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Store them in one layer to avoid crushing, and keep them in cool, dry conditions in the fridge to hinder mold growth.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Artificial intelligence claims can be particularly difficult to verify during compressed deal timelines.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
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Ignoring Vertical Space Keeping everything at eye level creates a compressed, horizontal feel that can make a small bathroom seem shorter and more confined.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To wrap up Day 2, the Dolphins took a pair of wide receivers and an in-line blocking tight end with their three picks in the third round.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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The Celtics also blocked three of the Sixers’ final four shots of the third, with Jordan Walsh, Brown and Vucevic all rejecting layups.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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