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

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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
Adjective
Compute and algorithms were also bottlenecked, but data was sort of right there with them. Harry Booth, Time, 22 June 2025 The tea wholesalers oversee another part of the process, too, where a third bottleneck is bottlenecking: packing. HubSpot, 20 June 2025
Verb
The data infrastructure is fully optimized to move information between components seamlessly, without bottlenecks. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2025 This will reduce the risk of strategic surprise and help inform policy choices on which bottlenecks to prioritize and which vulnerabilities to exploit to potentially slow China’s progress. Matan Chorev, Foreign Affairs, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
  • Meanwhile, across the street, The Hitch General Store delights visitors with nostalgic treats such as Goo Goo Clusters, Moon Pies, jams, honey, and classic bottled sodas.
    Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
  • Meghan Markle's As Ever online shop has now sold out in minutes on three occasions, leaving fans scrambling to get hold of her products, from jam to rosé wine.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Conclusion: Time to Retire the ‘End User’ The term ‘end user’ belongs to an earlier era of linear systems and passive tools.
    Lindsay Phillips, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • Deadline is told by a number of sources that the BBC is leaning towards showing the series, most likely on both linear TV and iPlayer.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • Streams were dammed, diseases struck and the American bullfrog, a fearsome predator and the largest native frog east of the Rocky Mountains, was introduced.
    Nathan Rott, NPR, 19 July 2025
  • The decade-long battle, in which conservation and wilderness preservation organizations fought to halt damming the Buffalo River, ended in 1972.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • Clean the mower’s deck frequently to prevent clogging.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 July 2025
  • The flood, which started when a neighboring pond overflowed and clogged nearby drains, devastated the family home.
    Sofi Zeman July 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2025
Verb
  • Leading Through Change And Crisis There's no doubt leadership fatigue toward managing culture can erode an organization’s sense of identity, hinder growth and breed disengagement.
    Dave Barnett, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • Hayes and the unnamed person were also charged with hindering prosecution in the first degree, according to court documents.
    Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • Ultimately, your pitch deck is the compressed narrative of your ambition.
    Elena Volotovskaya, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • Enter the compressed work schedule, a growing alternative that trades longer workdays for fewer of them.
    Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The Botox injections work by blocking a neurotransmitter that triggers sweat production.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • However, an air mass can sometimes block a storm, driving it north or northeast toward the Baja California peninsula and the west coast of Mexico.
    The New York Times, New York Times, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • Age Debt strains an organization’s resources, stifles innovation, and impedes growth.
    Dan Pontefract, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
  • Habba's office charged McIver with two counts of assaulting and impeding a law enforcement officer.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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