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, 5 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
The next step, then, is to actively evaluate where in your operations AI agents can remove bottlenecks, accelerate service and create new value for both customers and employees.
—Karpagam Narayanan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Documenting workflows and sharing access lets your team move seamlessly, preventing bottlenecks and burnout.
—Kari Cobham, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Codesphere eliminates DevOps bottlenecks with a platform that allows developers to deploy features instantly, without needing DevOps expertise.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Furniture prices spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, since stay-at-home orders triggered a surge of demand while delivery bottlenecks crimped supply.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
This avoids bottlenecks that slow down conventional chips and could make the system 100 times faster and more energy-efficient at specific tasks.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 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
The next step, then, is to actively evaluate where in your operations AI agents can remove bottlenecks, accelerate service and create new value for both customers and employees.
—Karpagam Narayanan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Documenting workflows and sharing access lets your team move seamlessly, preventing bottlenecks and burnout.
—Kari Cobham, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Codesphere eliminates DevOps bottlenecks with a platform that allows developers to deploy features instantly, without needing DevOps expertise.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Furniture prices spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, since stay-at-home orders triggered a surge of demand while delivery bottlenecks crimped supply.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 26 Aug. 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
-
This blocks criminals from opening new credit lines using your information.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Its antivirus also protects your devices through the cloud and blocks threats in real-time.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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This innovative platform, which researchers are exploring for applications ranging from flu to cancer to AIDS, poses a threat to global defenses against future crises and hinders progress in biomedical innovation.—
Bernadette Boden Albala,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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The Bonner hamstring injury further hinders this crew.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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To store fresh dill leaves, wrap the cut dill stems loosely in a damp paper towel and store it in a resealable bag in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
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The appeal stems less from current financials—which remain weak—and more from the pipeline’s transformative potential, particularly olezarsen’s opportunity.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Such misrecognition impedes effective disease management and underscores the need to reevaluate Chagas disease's endemic status.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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That case alleges Apple systematically impedes third-party apps and accessories, from super-apps to cloud streaming and digital wallets, to keep users locked in.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 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,
3 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,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Glacial outburst floods happen when the ice dams holding back glacial lakes fail, allowing a sudden release of water.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottlenecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottlenecks. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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