as in jam
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in linear
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in to dam
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bottleneck
Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Games like Space Engineers and Surviving Mars also do a great job of simulating energy bottlenecks; one of the major challenges of powering a real moon base isn't so much generating enough power as delivering it efficiently and reliably.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Given their constraints, the most plausible near-term roles are simple, repetitive, or hazardous tasks in structured spaces, moving totes, staging parts, and monitoring routine operations, where their slower pace or limited dexterity won’t bottleneck the entire line.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Noun
The Strait of Hormuz effectively shut down in early March at the onset of the Iran war, triggering a major bottleneck in global energy and petrochemical flows.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Games like Space Engineers and Surviving Mars also do a great job of simulating energy bottlenecks; one of the major challenges of powering a real moon base isn't so much generating enough power as delivering it efficiently and reliably.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
The real-world difference is how snappy everything feels when your storage doesn’t bottleneck your system.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
Given their constraints, the most plausible near-term roles are simple, repetitive, or hazardous tasks in structured spaces, moving totes, staging parts, and monitoring routine operations, where their slower pace or limited dexterity won’t bottleneck the entire line.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
-
Wexler induced a groundball to second as the Cobras defense turned a double play to escape the jam.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The outing wasn’t free of some jams, but Wright worked out of them with poise.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Xavier Legette was fast in the NFL Scouting Combine in 2024 but hasn’t been able to showcase that linear speed much in his two years in the NFL.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Two double balance wheels inclined at 30 degrees dominate the lower half, with the upper half featuring a subdial for the running seconds, a four-minute indicator for the differential that supplies power to the two balances, and a linear power display.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asked experts to study what happened at the Edenville and Sanford dams.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Then, about 20,000 years ago the Laurentide continental glacier moved into the area, pushing rocks, soil, and other debris, eventually damming Pine Creek and forming an expansive lake.—
Anthony Fredericks,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Though the intent is to ease congestion on a highly trafficked portion of the interstate, neighborhood and citywide groups oppose the project after maps revealed neighborhoods in historically Black parts of town could lose homes.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Let’s address emissions and street congestion.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shively said debris and litter are the main culprit when the drainage systems are clogged.—
Dylan Lysen,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The bus is for everyone, and every person on that bus represents one less vehicle clogging our roadways.—
Mary Tomolonius,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rams boss Les Snead and Chiefs leadership tandem Andy Reid and Brett Veach don’t seem hindered by obstacles either, despite later draft slots and paying future Hall of Fame quarterbacks.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Store them in one layer to avoid crushing, and keep them in cool, dry conditions in the fridge to hinder mold growth.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Artificial intelligence claims can be particularly difficult to verify during compressed deal timelines.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Ignoring Vertical Space Keeping everything at eye level creates a compressed, horizontal feel that can make a small bathroom seem shorter and more confined.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To wrap up Day 2, the Dolphins took a pair of wide receivers and an in-line blocking tight end with their three picks in the third round.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Celtics also blocked three of the Sixers’ final four shots of the third, with Jordan Walsh, Brown and Vucevic all rejecting layups.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
