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
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Supply chain bottlenecks could emerge if domestic production cannot keep pace with demand.
—Phil Lempert, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The road to becoming a nurse in California has been paved with roadblocks, sharp turns and bottlenecks.
—Betty Limon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Knowledge gained from the meetings was also used to help guide investments in labs, technology, and people that removed real bottlenecks.
—Nelson P. Repenning, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Documenting workflows and sharing access lets your team move seamlessly, preventing bottlenecks and burnout.
—Kari Cobham, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
One of the bottlenecks in frequency comb technology has been the high energy required for spectral broadening.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
Supply chain bottlenecks could emerge if domestic production cannot keep pace with demand.
—Phil Lempert, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
The road to becoming a nurse in California has been paved with roadblocks, sharp turns and bottlenecks.
—Betty Limon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Knowledge gained from the meetings was also used to help guide investments in labs, technology, and people that removed real bottlenecks.
—Nelson P. Repenning, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Documenting workflows and sharing access lets your team move seamlessly, preventing bottlenecks and burnout.
—Kari Cobham, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottlenecks
Noun
-
As Ever’s first batch of products, which included teas, honey, jams, rosé wine, and even flower sprinkles, meanwhile, sold out in minutes.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 Sep. 2025
-
That period of time culminated in the group’s debut album, out later this year, that showcases We The Band’s funky R&B stylings alongside its knack for improvisational jams.—
Lyndsey Havens,
Billboard,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But in the late 1970s, researchers began to learn that the drugs helped flood the brain with gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, which in essence blocks your nervous system from receiving too many activation signals.—
P.E. Moskowitz
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The anti-blue lens blocks 90% of blue light and protects your eyes from electronics and everyday life.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Beyond the general inconvenience of snarls, skipping out on detangling can compromise both your hair’s health and its styling potential.—
Annie Blackman,
Glamour,
11 Aug. 2025
-
Traffic snarls in the Brickell area are nothing new.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This hinders the delivery of critical alerts and real-time actions.—
Michael De Nil,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The Bonner hamstring injury further hinders this crew.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
That fur gradually clogs up air filters and makes your heating and cooling less efficient.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Along with the swamp eels, scientists in the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center have been most concerned about the spread of Cuban tree frogs, which secrete noxious chemicals that are harmful to humans, and alligatorweed, which clogs waterways that can impact infrastructure.—
Wesley Bruer,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The current round of liberal hand-wringing about how conservatives have become far better at driving the political conversation stems in large part from Kirk.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The fastball is at the bottom of the zone, and that’s kind of where everything stems for me.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The university has also cracked down on chalking on campus sidewalks, which critics say impedes the free speech rights of students.—
Chris Quintana,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Let go of whatever impedes your growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottlenecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottlenecks. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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