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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of jams
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Arndt allowed baserunners in each of the first five innings but wiggled out of most of the jams.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Breakfast is a treat, with made-from-scratch English muffins and housemade jams, plus heartier items like a smothered breakfast burrito.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
At Amish Experience, find locally made candy, jams, clothing, and home decor.
—Robin Pfeifer, Midwest Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Percussionist and sound artist Colin Blanton mints a new alias for a suite of improvisational industrial jams where distortion is baked in at the atomic level.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
Eat the figs fresh or turn them into jams or jellies to enjoy year-round.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026
The show ebbed and flowed with precision, with the uptempo jams countered by Mars’ considerable arsenal of ballads.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Shop a variety of jams and jellies, salsas, sauces, dips, and other food items.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 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
The outing wasn’t free of some jams, but Wright worked out of them with poise.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Arndt allowed baserunners in each of the first five innings but wiggled out of most of the jams.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Breakfast is a treat, with made-from-scratch English muffins and housemade jams, plus heartier items like a smothered breakfast burrito.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
At Amish Experience, find locally made candy, jams, clothing, and home decor.
—Robin Pfeifer, Midwest Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Percussionist and sound artist Colin Blanton mints a new alias for a suite of improvisational industrial jams where distortion is baked in at the atomic level.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
Eat the figs fresh or turn them into jams or jellies to enjoy year-round.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026
The show ebbed and flowed with precision, with the uptempo jams countered by Mars’ considerable arsenal of ballads.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Shop a variety of jams and jellies, salsas, sauces, dips, and other food items.
—Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 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
-
Visiting is free, and public transit is recommended due to the traffic snarls along the National Mall (especially on the weekend).—
Adele Chapin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Apr. 2026
-
As Ross, Martin’s friend and confidante, Kevin Singer has the insinuating righteousness of a slinky cat, his line readings all mews and snarls.—
Steven Winn,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its chicken salad scoop options include the Olivia’s Old South (sweet pickles and egg), Jalapeño Holly (with jalapeños), Nutty Nanna (with pecans and cashews), Barbie Q and more.—
Jenna Thompson
April 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
-
To begin, there are moreish pickles, warm soda bread, and thin slices of sweet Irish Coolea cheese.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Tyler Cameron happily stuffs his face at the launch of Panera's new salad stuffers during an intimate dinner in New York.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
First, Detroit has centers ahead of him in Larkin, Copp and potentially Kasper next season, with Nate Danielson on the way as well, which either complicates Compher’s path to high-lineup playing time or blocks one of the young players.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
That put the company strategically on track to potentially go public in the final quarter of 2026—following an $852 billion valuation—unless Musk’s lawsuit blocks the move.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Montgomery County loads up on snacks and dessert to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary.—
Kim Hudson,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Brandon builds a fire, loads the smoker with hot charcoal, puts the pig in, and then pulls the tenderloin only a few hours into the cooking process; Sieger puts the pig in first, then gently raises the temperature, and does not pull the tenderloin separately.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The overnight storms were part of a broader severe weather outbreak that is expected to continue April 28 as the system pushes farther east and new storms develop to the south.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Castle Rock’s internal guidance pushes the story toward testing, consultations, and monitoring while pulling it away from hard claims about outcomes.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Journeys that used to take entire seasons were being covered in single episodes, characters survived predicaments that once meant surefire death, and previously relevant factors like supplies, infrastructure, and alliances no longer mattered.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
24 Mar. 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 1 May. 2026.
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