bottleneck 1 of 3

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

bottleneck

2 of 3

adjective

bottleneck

3 of 3

verb

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
Noun
The project also involved complete overhauls to interchanges and redesigning stretches of the road that used to most frequently see bottlenecks. Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025 According to recent reports from commercial real estate firm CBRE, data center construction activity has increased by 25% year-over-year to record highs, creating significant bottlenecks in the development pipeline. Jackie Snow, Quartz, 3 Mar. 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
This will likely happen when the graphics card is bottlenecked by either the game engine or your CPU. Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PCMAG, 24 Jan. 2025 The storm is also slated to take place over the weekend after a national holiday, potentially bottlenecking major airports across the country. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
  • Brown had just gotten out of his own jam in the top of the inning to end his outing.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Skubal used his calling-card changeup to escape a jam early.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Pulling It All Together The traditional concept of climbing the corporate ladder has given way to a more dynamic and strategic approach—one that resembles navigating a rock wall rather than ascending a rigid, linear structure.
    Jason Richmond, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Discovery sibling Adult Swim will continue to carry the series’ past episodes through 2030 as the exclusive linear home of the American Dad! library which currently is also available on WBD’s TruTV.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Catch up quick: Glen Canyon is home to particularly sensitive ecosystems and archeological sites that have been threatened since the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation dammed the Colorado River there in the 1960s.
    Erin Alberty, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
  • His firsthand experiences along the river reveal the contrasting beauty and devastation of this once mighty waterway, which has been heavily diverted and dammed for human use.
    Donny Bajohr, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Brazilians can kick and clog and spite and swindle as well as any South American (or European) team.
    Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
  • That prevents the cream from clogging your pores and causing further breakouts.
    BestReviews, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • However, some connections hinder, rather than help, professional progress.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • His zone swing percentage is higher than average but is going to have to be at Freddie Freeman levels to hinder teams in effectively pitching around him.
    Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The multi-national trash hauler that will soon service the majority of St. Paul’s residential routes will have to find a new home for its planned truck maintenance and compressed natural gas refueling center.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The compressed sense of time bonds what is real and what isn’t.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Automakers must take pedestrian safety into account for once, calling off their lobbyists trying to block sensible regulations that would save lives.
    Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2025
  • These quality glasses tend to block 100% of UV light also.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Whereas, for example, if AI is part of a feature set, one component faulting does not necessarily cause the user to feel their tasks have been impeded.
    Agur Jõgi, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Britain’s youth are grappling with worse mental health now than 10 years ago, pushing more of them out of employment than their middle-aged peers and impeding their career growth.
    BYPrarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 21 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bottleneck

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!