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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to dam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bottleneck
Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025
The results can help emergency crews understand where bottlenecks are likely to occur along evacuation routes, depending on the timing of the notice and the movement of the fire.
—Ashley Bosa, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 20 May 2013
To compare pre- and post-bottleneck genetic diversity, the researchers sequenced DNA from 1,000-year-old penguin bones on the island.
—Sarah Zhang, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2012
Mark Murphy, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Border security Trump left President Biden a border with relatively few unauthorized migrant encounters per month but primed to explode with tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people bottlenecked south of the U.S.-Mexico line.
—Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bottleneck 
Noun
SpaceX's massive Starship rocket is designed to be fully reusable, further reducing costs and potentially resolving any concerns about production bottlenecks.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025
The results can help emergency crews understand where bottlenecks are likely to occur along evacuation routes, depending on the timing of the notice and the movement of the fire.
—Ashley Bosa, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The impact of the pre-bottleneck period is attenuated, because much of the population was simply not genetically sampled.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 20 May 2013
To compare pre- and post-bottleneck genetic diversity, the researchers sequenced DNA from 1,000-year-old penguin bones on the island.
—Sarah Zhang, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2012
Verb
Regular peer reviews focusing on collaborative outcomes rather than individual contributions help maintain momentum, while clear escalation paths prevent the formation of knowledge bottlenecks that covert narcissists often exploit.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Border security Trump left President Biden a border with relatively few unauthorized migrant encounters per month but primed to explode with tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people bottlenecked south of the U.S.-Mexico line.
—Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
-
If meat isn’t on the menu, this handy tool can mix and mash up other foods, including fruits for jam.—
Amber Guetebier,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Kirby’s big jam came right after Abalos, his good buddy and former AAU teammate, filled the lane and slammed home a rebound.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The portrayals of Black couples—through struggle, passion, humor, and success—have shown us that love may not be linear, but is still beautiful, nonetheless.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
14 Feb. 2025
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But development progress is rarely linear for players at such a young age.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
The Athletic,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of creating huge reservoirs to dam the rivers and compromise their delicate ecology, Bhutanese turbines harness their natural flow, meaning a glut of power during the sodden summers and a dearth during the parched winters.—
By Charlie Campbell/Gelephu, Bhutan,
TIME,
16 Jan. 2025
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The result is that California can’t simply dam its way out of water scarcity and will have to make some difficult decisions about who gets to use water.—
Umair Irfan,
Vox,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
As the television world has been clogged with procedurals medical, legal, and criminal, a lot of tropes have gone from cute to washed.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2025
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Glycolic acid also provides gentle exfoliation at the surface, preventing dead skin from clogging pores.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Driving the news: The freezing of State Department funds is hindering local groups from helping refugees who arrived shortly before the executive order, says Adam Clark, the executive director of World Relief Durham.—
Zachery Eanes,
Axios,
10 Feb. 2025
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Beauty struck a rare sour note during its quarterly report, cutting its full-year guidance in light of a January that the retailer says was hindered by the LA wildfires and fewer makeup tutorials on TikTok.—
Sara Salinas,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The flame thrower weighed 72 pounds with two fuel tanks and a center tank for compressed nitrogen.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Feb. 2025
-
The device is mounted on their car and uses compressed air to fire a tracker that sticks to the vehicle in front of them.—
Jason Ogaard,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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And so, every dough-mixing day was a carefully orchestrated process that required blocking out seven hours to mix and stretch the dough every 30 minutes.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appétit,
11 Feb. 2025
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The filing asserts that the administration has no authority to block programs and funding mandated by Congress without approval.—
Ellen Knickmeyer,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Along with carrying out mass deportations, his second administration has vowed to prosecute anyone who impedes their immigration enforcement operations.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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The practice is now impeded by ever more protective drone squadrons of P.R. people, although Prince Andrew’s ruinous television interview is a prime example—the disingenuous reporter meets the insufficiently self-aware subject, and blood is spilled.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bottleneck
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
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