bottlenecks 1 of 2

noun

plural of bottleneck
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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bottlenecks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bottleneck
as in snags

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 bottlenecks
Noun
The 140,000-square-foot facility will manufacture missile systems, interceptors, high-voltage drone fuzes, seekers and other critical components, helping address bottlenecks in the US munitions supply chain. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026 But the Chinese chip firms also face manufacturing bottlenecks, which are expected to persist in the coming two years, Caixin reports. — Tim Backshall, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2026 Supply chain bottlenecks, and specifically SpaceX's efforts to make turbine vanes and blades in-house, may be another topic of discussion. — Kevin Stankiewicz,zev Fima, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026 Fuel costs have been soaring because of the Iran war and the ensuing bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz, which have squeezed global oil and gas supplies. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 Advertisement Internal missteps have only tightened external bottlenecks. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 Oct. 2026 In the bottlenecks that threaten their dominance, the two superpowers are mirror images. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026 Yet much of the current inflation comes from supply shocks, such as the Iran war’s disruption to oil and gas supplies, and higher interest rates can’t address those bottlenecks. — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Winter Springs must document resident complaints and work directly with Seminole County, FDOT, Oviedo and MetroPlan Orlando to address Slavia Road and other regional bottlenecks. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottlenecks
  1. jams
  2. snags
  3. snarls
  4. blocks
  5. hinders
  6. clogs
  7. stems
  8. impedes
Noun
  • The 24-piece box comes with miniature jars of jams and spreads like fig and cardamom, caramel and dark chocolate, rhubarb and strawberry, apricot and honey, and more.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Drink Cider at an Apple Orchard Venture 20 minutes south of Galena to Orchard Landing Apple Farm to pick 14 kinds of apples apples, sample hard cider, and grab some jams, jellies, and cider donuts to go.
    — Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of jams
Verb
  • Some Arizona executions had snags When Strada was in Arizona, that state in 2022 resumed executions after a nearly eight-year break, following criticism about an execution that took about two hours as well as difficulties obtaining certain drugs.
    — Ed White, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In the book, when Hig tries to land there, a trip wire almost snags the Cessna and pulls them down to their deaths in a crash.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of snags
Noun
  • To get to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, take the metro (look for the brown Metro Line 9) to avoid getting entangled in traffic snarls.
    — Alan Chazaro, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Around her, Youth builds an impressively frantic web of relationships and plot snarls.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of snarls
Verb
  • Imfinzi, made by AstraZeneca, is an immunotherapy that blocks a protein called PD-L1, which cancer cells use to evade the immune system.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Community opposition that blocks municipal permits has become a bottleneck, and tech giants could face even more challenges if voters next month elect more public officials who are skeptical of data centers.
    — Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of blocks
Verb
  • Unexcused absences in three consecutive elections freeze tax IDs, block nonvoters from applying to state jobs, hinders loans from state banks, and delays the issuance of passports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • This method prevents nitrogen from diluting the exhaust gas, which hinders combustion and keeps the CO₂ concentration relatively low.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of hinders
Verb
  • Diagnosed at age 3 with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that clogs the lungs with sticky mucus, Smith grew up with doctors expecting a cure to arrive in time to save her.
    — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The fine powder clogs their digestive systems and prevents them from eating plants.
    — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of clogs
Verb
  • Nasdaq's growing appeal stems in part from revisions to its index inclusion mechanisms and listing rules implemented earlier this year.
    — , CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
  • To avoid any hassle, remove and destroy disease leaves and plant stems before winter sets in.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of stems
Verb
  • Federal officials argue that California’s refusal to review the federal list or set aside the associated ballots impedes enforcement.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The stigma of a record impedes their ability to get a job, leaving them unable to afford market-rate housing at a time when affordable housing is already limited.
    — Lake County News-Sun, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of impedes

Browse Nearby Words

bottlenecking
bottlenecks
bottles
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Cite this Entry

“Bottlenecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottlenecks. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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