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
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 June 2026
Supply chain bottlenecks throughout 2021 and 2022 in the later stages of the Covid-19 pandemic had clogged capacity on container vessels, further contributing to a shortage of space and containers that pushed ocean freight rates up to record levels.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
Growing companies can hit coordination bottlenecks around 50 employees and again around 150.
—Nick Chandi, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Known as the East West Connector, the nearly mile-long road was first proposed decades ago for drivers to escape infuriating bottlenecks when traveling east-west across the town.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026
Business leaders hope her government could restore policy consistency, reduce regulatory bottlenecks and revive stalled mining projects.
—Antonio MarÃa Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
Noun
The system not only tells users that an asset needs resupply but can also identify potential bottlenecks and recommend alternative courses of action.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 June 2026
Supply chain bottlenecks throughout 2021 and 2022 in the later stages of the Covid-19 pandemic had clogged capacity on container vessels, further contributing to a shortage of space and containers that pushed ocean freight rates up to record levels.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
Growing companies can hit coordination bottlenecks around 50 employees and again around 150.
—Nick Chandi, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Known as the East West Connector, the nearly mile-long road was first proposed decades ago for drivers to escape infuriating bottlenecks when traveling east-west across the town.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026
Business leaders hope her government could restore policy consistency, reduce regulatory bottlenecks and revive stalled mining projects.
—Antonio MarÃa Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottlenecks
Noun
-
Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
22 June 2026
-
Achieving it in reality would be brutally hard because the target moves, hides, jams, uses decoys, and fights back.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Ferris, played by Matthew Broderick, snags a foul ball, narrated on TV by Harry Caray from a game on June 5, 1985, with Lee Smith pitching for the Cubs and Claudell Washington hitting for the Braves.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
12 June 2026
-
The fish typically remain at a depth of around 3,000 feet, and any encounters with humans have been the result of accidental fishing line snags.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Be prepared for traffic snarls and multiple security checkpoints.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The Earth’s atmosphere blocks most of the Sun’s radiation.—
Guy German,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
-
This could be an indication that the P-trap under the sink has dried out, which means water no longer blocks unpleasant smells from rising.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
This is due, in large part, to expectations of a strong El Niño, which traditionally hinders storm development.—
Robin Webb,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
Our systems are overly complex, spanning hundreds of dependencies, which hinders our ability to move fast.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
In the future, says Dukhovny, flying cars will be as ubiquitous in the skies of New York as ordinary cars are now — with none of the congestion that clogs our streets.—
Anne Kadet,
Curbed,
19 June 2026
-
This scale quickly clogs ordinary solar stills, much like calcium buildup ruins your bathroom showerhead.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Each 60-inch cage supports tomato plant stems, and trains them to grow vertically for the highest yield.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 June 2026
-
Users can mix tracks right in the app or export the individual stems directly to a computer DAW or video editor.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
While the technology assists in officiating and enhances live broadcasts, those sensors can also add uneven mass distribution that impedes a ball's movement in the air.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
-
When wealth impedes authenticity, the consequences can extend well into economic, cultural, and civic spheres.—
David H. Rosmarin,
Time,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottlenecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottlenecks. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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