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
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026
That creates dependency, bottlenecks, and burnout disguised as excellence.
—Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Small businesses, Etsy sellers and side hustlers producing customized products often face bottlenecks in design time, particularly when handling high volumes of personalized orders.
—New Atlas, 24 May 2026
The framework proved integral during Tesla’s growth years, McNeill recalled, helping solve manufacturing bottlenecks tied to the Model X and scale the company from roughly $2 billion in revenue to $20 billion.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 May 2026
The biggest hurdles facing African suppliers, the trade group argued, aren’t so much tariffs but rather poor local infrastructure, complex regulations, lack of funding and shipping bottlenecks.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Noun
Tackling port electrification bottlenecks with 5MW output Designed for large-scale maritime operations, the Hydrogen Power Hub can deliver up to 5MW of continuous clean electricity directly to vessels at berth.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026
That creates dependency, bottlenecks, and burnout disguised as excellence.
—Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026
Small businesses, Etsy sellers and side hustlers producing customized products often face bottlenecks in design time, particularly when handling high volumes of personalized orders.
—New Atlas, 24 May 2026
The framework proved integral during Tesla’s growth years, McNeill recalled, helping solve manufacturing bottlenecks tied to the Model X and scale the company from roughly $2 billion in revenue to $20 billion.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 May 2026
The biggest hurdles facing African suppliers, the trade group argued, aren’t so much tariffs but rather poor local infrastructure, complex regulations, lack of funding and shipping bottlenecks.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottlenecks
Noun
-
Breakfast included, with lots of homemade jams and pastries.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Seyfrid also makes his own Bavarian-style mustards and jams.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
In the coming-of-age dramedy produced by Adam Sandler, his daughter Sunny Sandler stars as a teenager who snags the lead in her high school musical and is ready for the spotlight.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
-
Jewelry Minor snags from rings, watches, bracelets, and necklaces can present big problems for delicate fabrics.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
No security feature blocks every attack forever.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
During one of their early meetings, Castillo got on the whiteboard and described a basic pass protection in which every lineman slides over and blocks a gap.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Drivers should brace for traffic snarls this summer when South Elgin’s State Street bridge over the Fox River is reduced to one lane for road resurfacing work.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Travel industry leaders and major airlines warn the proposal would devastate tourism, choke international cargo and create massive operational snarls.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Current dependence on rare earth elements or precious metals often hinders the widespread adoption of electrolysis systems.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
-
Making every decision for your teenager hinders their ability to build independence.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
This scale quickly clogs ordinary solar stills, much like calcium buildup ruins your bathroom showerhead.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 May 2026
-
Bednar’s white board during the playoffs never seems to have an answer for a team that takes away the rush, clogs the neutral zone and clamps down on the tempo.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Pea shoots are the delicate leaves, stems and tendrils of the snow pea plant.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
-
The real lottery win stems directly from the unique circumstances of his roster journey during the 2025-26 campaign.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
This ruling sets a troubling precedent that undermines protections afforded to interstate commerce and impedes site remediation, as well as the safe and effective long-term management of these materials for customers in Michigan and throughout the country.—
Heath Kalb,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
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Supporters describe it as a first-of-its-kind provision that could reduce gun violence, but critics say such technology impedes on free expression.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottlenecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottlenecks. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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