1
as in snarls
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement
thousands of cars trying to leave the stadium's parking lot at the same time are sure to create a jam
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in pickles
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
the heavy rain puts us in a real jam: all of the preparations are for a garden wedding
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in blocks
to prevent passage through by filling with something
firefighters found the nightclub's doorways jammed with trapped patrons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in loads
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained
the inn will jam a guest's picnic basket with an array of tempting foods
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of jams
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Seyfrid also makes his own Bavarian-style mustards and jams.
—Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
Mornings brought a generous buffet of regional cheeses, handmade sour-cherry and quince jams, and flaky börek pastries.
—Anya Von Bremzen, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
The senior escaped several jams to toss a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead JSerra past La Mirada 3-2 for its first section title.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Sale got out of the first three jams, however, and in the top of the fourth the Braves scored twice off Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
Amazon now offers spices from around the world, condiments from around the country and several gourmet jams, snacks, chocolate and even popcorn from near and far.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
At Sony Hall, as part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival, Mdou Moctar unleashes riffy jams inspired by assouf, a fusionist Tuareg guitar music (June 7).
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
There's nothing better than heading home from a trip with goodies, including local jams, veggies, and treats.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 11 May 2026
Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
The move effectively jams the upper chamber by including the repeal in the funding package without the necessary time to reverse course, giving the Senate no option but to approve it.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Traffic regularly jams the freeway into the city, and residents fight over efforts to build more homes.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
Someone breaks in, someone jams the signal from the home’s alarm system, someone monitors police radio traffic.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Aug. 2025
After Dex takes her down, Weyland recovers her brain and jams it into a supercomputer.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2025
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, 1 June 2026
Mornings brought a generous buffet of regional cheeses, handmade sour-cherry and quince jams, and flaky börek pastries.
—Anya Von Bremzen, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
The senior escaped several jams to toss a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts to lead JSerra past La Mirada 3-2 for its first section title.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Sale got out of the first three jams, however, and in the top of the fourth the Braves scored twice off Red Sox rookie Payton Tolle.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
Amazon now offers spices from around the world, condiments from around the country and several gourmet jams, snacks, chocolate and even popcorn from near and far.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
At Sony Hall, as part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival, Mdou Moctar unleashes riffy jams inspired by assouf, a fusionist Tuareg guitar music (June 7).
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
There's nothing better than heading home from a trip with goodies, including local jams, veggies, and treats.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 11 May 2026
Verb
That crud jams up the works of your coffee maker, slows brewing down, and impacts the taste of your morning brew.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
The move effectively jams the upper chamber by including the repeal in the funding package without the necessary time to reverse course, giving the Senate no option but to approve it.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Traffic regularly jams the freeway into the city, and residents fight over efforts to build more homes.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
Someone breaks in, someone jams the signal from the home’s alarm system, someone monitors police radio traffic.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Aug. 2025
After Dex takes her down, Weyland recovers her brain and jams it into a supercomputer.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jams
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
Noun
-
At Miznon, fresh pita is filled with a falafel burger, tangy pickles, tomato, sour cream, and green chili peppers.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Most varieties make crisp, firm pickles when picked at about 4 inches long.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Throughout, visiting tourist Madeleine (Kristen Stewart) stuffs her face with every kind of meat, vegetable and carb while her father Phil (Woody Harrelson) is the one whose stomach miraculously swells.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
-
At home, Jonathan Wright, director of the Indianapolis art museum's park and gardens, stuffs in the plants, stacks the pots, and lets everything grow.—
Teresa Woodard,
Midwest Living,
17 Apr. 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
Verb
-
Their body care kit gets to the root of smooth skin with a trio of products including a pre-sluff bar that rids it of lotions and oils, a washable textured mitt that sloughs off dead cells and a eucalyptus-scented body lotion that loads it with hydration while making your bathroom smell like a spa.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
-
Utilities need confidence that loads requesting hundreds of megawatts of capacity will actually materialize and remain economically viable.—
Anna Broughel,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Cater pushes back on the idea that cutting carbs entirely is the answer.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
That lag pushes the peak of sea surface temperature in the Atlantic from the mid-June solstice to mid-September.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Rather than bridging shortfalls, both Seattle and Washington now face more difficult fiscal predicaments, Joblon said.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
-
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Director Allan Deberton crams much story and characterization in those opening frames.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, the show crams everything into a space that can't hold it, culminating in this past third season that exploded with too much of practically everything.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jams. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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