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
Nikita Lalwani, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2025
When irregular operations occur (due to weather delays, for instance), agents can provide assistance throughout the terminal rather than creating bottlenecks at service desks.
—Stoyan Mitov, Forbes.com, 30 May 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
Chris Willis, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Consequently, relative to other elements concentrations of oxygen would have still been low, potentially bottlenecking water’s ready formation.
—Conor Feehly, Scientific American, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Noun
Finally, state and local governments can create permitting bottlenecks, which lead to years of delay.
—Nikita Lalwani, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2025
When irregular operations occur (due to weather delays, for instance), agents can provide assistance throughout the terminal rather than creating bottlenecks at service desks.
—Stoyan Mitov, Forbes.com, 30 May 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
For leaders frustrated with complex analytics tools or bottlenecked by data teams, this transformation offers something unprecedented—the ability to access any business insight through natural conversation.
—Chris Willis, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Consequently, relative to other elements concentrations of oxygen would have still been low, potentially bottlenecking water’s ready formation.
—Conor Feehly, Scientific American, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
-
Moore stole second and Ryan Klein drew a walk to put two on with no outs, but Miami reliever Brain Walters remained composed, including a flyout to right, a groundout to short, and a flyout to center that helped the Hurricanes escape the jam and secure the victory.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2025
-
Both sides shoot down, or electronically jam, most incoming drones.—
Greg Myre,
NPR,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
The road to success is hardly ever linear, just like Ian’s.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
-
Like its traditional media peers, TelevisaUnivision is working to offset secular decline in its linear TV business with growth in streaming.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
These results highlight a strange irony: Humans have made the world more stressful for all kinds of animals by, for example, destroying their habitat and damming up rivers.—
Benji Jones,
Vox,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Animal Power, Quantified (Eos) by Carolyn Wilke Beavers damming rivers and termites building earthen mounds aren’t just interesting subjects for nature shows.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Sand can also clog the washer's drain and drain pump, causing water to back up or ruining the pump entirely.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
1 June 2025
-
The streets of Bangkok are frequently clogged with thousands of motorbikes, and many Thais learn to ride the vehicles from a young age.—
Lydia Mee,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 June 2025
Verb
-
In some such as Utah and Nevada, the government controls the vast majority of lands, protecting them from potential exploitation but hindering growth.—
Matthew Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
-
These credit impacts may hinder access to mortgages, car loans and other financial products.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
They are typically deployed with paintball-style guns powered by compressed air.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
11 June 2025
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Although the cans may seem to be filled with compressed air, most of them are composed of a variety of chemicals and gases, including difluoroethane, per Psychology Today.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
McDowell blocked 19 shots, second-best mark on his team.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2025
-
The canopy also blocks rain effectively and withstands windy conditions.—
Sandi Schwartz,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
Protesters should remain on sidewalks where possible and avoid impeding traffic or emergency access, Honeycutt said.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2025
-
Earlier that day, a large rally had been held in nearby Grant Park, in protest of the arrest of David Huerta, a Los Angeles labor leader who was being held in federal custody for conspiracy to impede an officer during an immigration raid on a Los Angeles business on Friday.—
Emily Witt,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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