as in jams
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
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Recent Examples of bottlenecks
Kevin Williams, CNBC, 9 May 2026
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
The big risk in an elongation scenario, the institute argues, is if bottlenecks prove severe or persistent enough to shift the buildout narrative.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026
The shutdown is expected to create bottlenecks throughout the weekend, including on Mother's Day.
—Emily McLeod, CBS News, 5 May 2026
Niobium aims to address these bottlenecks using mistic, its FPGA (field-programmable gate array) chip, which can be reconfigured for FHE after manufacturing.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
This level of integration is aimed at improving reliability, reducing production bottlenecks, and scaling manufacturing efficiently without outsourcing key subsystems.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
The laptop version of the GeForce RTX 5070 is getting a bump from 8GB to 12GB of GDDR7, a 50 percent increase that should reduce some performance bottlenecks and generally future-proof the GPU.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026
That shift removes one of the biggest bottlenecks in space research.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
On the positive side, the residential model reduces land and infrastructure requirements that are becoming serious bottlenecks, distributes compute closer to end users, and creates a natural incentive for homeowners through energy savings, said Tammabattula.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 9 May 2026
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
The big risk in an elongation scenario, the institute argues, is if bottlenecks prove severe or persistent enough to shift the buildout narrative.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026
The shutdown is expected to create bottlenecks throughout the weekend, including on Mother's Day.
—Emily McLeod, CBS News, 5 May 2026
Niobium aims to address these bottlenecks using mistic, its FPGA (field-programmable gate array) chip, which can be reconfigured for FHE after manufacturing.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
This level of integration is aimed at improving reliability, reducing production bottlenecks, and scaling manufacturing efficiently without outsourcing key subsystems.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
The laptop version of the GeForce RTX 5070 is getting a bump from 8GB to 12GB of GDDR7, a 50 percent increase that should reduce some performance bottlenecks and generally future-proof the GPU.
—Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2026
That shift removes one of the biggest bottlenecks in space research.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottlenecks
Noun
-
Their tart stalks are staples in sweet dishes, such as pies, jams, and crumbles, but can also be used in savory dishes and even beverages.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
9 May 2026
-
Mulberries are a delicious ingredient in teas, jams, wines, and more around the world.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Jewelry Minor snags from rings, watches, bracelets, and necklaces can present big problems for delicate fabrics.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
-
One cat steals the spotlight and another snags it right back.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In contrast, targeting NTR1 activates a particular signaling protein and blocks pain.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
But then maybe Embiid blocks him from behind.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
And when jet lag snarls your normal rest pattern, the window views and a cup of traditional Chinese tea awaiting each guest’s arrival become a pleasant distraction.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
Locals going to the matches are advised to use public transportation if possible, not only to avoid paying for parking but also to avoid traffic snarls around the stadium.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
This imbalance hinders some of the phrasing's sweetness in the vocal harmony.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
-
Vast terrain hinders search The immediate area in Stewart County where the search is currently contained is covered with big trees and steep hills, as well as snakes and ticks, according to the sheriff.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Verb
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At the conservancy’s Rosemont Preserve, volunteers have essentially removed all invasive castor bean, arundo (which clogs streams) and tree tobacco, which crowd out native plants and harm the landscape.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Although convenient, dryer sheets can leave a residue that clogs the lint trap and contributes to buildup.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This low-mounding shade perennial sends up taller, slender stems with airy flower clusters, and the groundcover spreads by slowly creeping rhizomes.—
Judy Nauseef,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2026
-
Sturdy flower stems make for excellent cut flowers.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Verb
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State and federal agencies don’t track data around vitamin K injection refusal or subsequent bleeding, which impedes their ability to quantify and track outcomes, including death.—
Duaa Eldeib,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
-
Let go of whatever impedes your progress.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottlenecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottlenecks. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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