as in jams
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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Recent Examples of bottlenecks
John Seewer, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
The enormous amount of money flowing across Noem’s desk led to complaints of bottlenecks and worsening bureaucracy, and raised suspicions that Lewandowski was grifting off the contracts.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
In Ohio, John Glenn International Airport in Columbus says early birds — reacting to the funding standoff on Capitol Hill that’s creating crowded security checkpoints — are making things worse by creating bottlenecks during peak times.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The collaboration aims to solve these bottlenecks by providing a set of digital engineering tools to facilitate site permitting, construction, operations and maintenance phases of the reactor lifecycle.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
When dams block routes, when fishing intensifies at migratory bottlenecks and when floodplains and spawning grounds are cut off or degraded, most migratory fish do not simply go somewhere else.
—Zeb Hogan, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
In response, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments are trying to ease these bottlenecks.
—Eleni Giokos, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
State officials and business leaders have noted a series of recent actions that have helped ease bottlenecks at the southbound San Ysidro-Tijuana crossing.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Certain venues and activities tend to be especially popular, creating potential hallway bottlenecks, scarce seating and long lines.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
The airport says those premature arrivers — reacting to the funding standoff on Capitol Hill that’s creating crowded security checkpoints — are making things worse by creating bottlenecks during peak times.
—John Seewer, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
The enormous amount of money flowing across Noem’s desk led to complaints of bottlenecks and worsening bureaucracy, and raised suspicions that Lewandowski was grifting off the contracts.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
In Ohio, John Glenn International Airport in Columbus says early birds — reacting to the funding standoff on Capitol Hill that’s creating crowded security checkpoints — are making things worse by creating bottlenecks during peak times.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The collaboration aims to solve these bottlenecks by providing a set of digital engineering tools to facilitate site permitting, construction, operations and maintenance phases of the reactor lifecycle.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
When dams block routes, when fishing intensifies at migratory bottlenecks and when floodplains and spawning grounds are cut off or degraded, most migratory fish do not simply go somewhere else.
—Zeb Hogan, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
In response, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments are trying to ease these bottlenecks.
—Eleni Giokos, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
State officials and business leaders have noted a series of recent actions that have helped ease bottlenecks at the southbound San Ysidro-Tijuana crossing.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Certain venues and activities tend to be especially popular, creating potential hallway bottlenecks, scarce seating and long lines.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottlenecks
Noun
-
Working with strict limitations—no more than five instruments; just one hour to make each track—the two West Coast leftfield vets turn out a surprisingly expansive set of wooly electronic jams.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
-
And all shows and jams ceased to exist.—
Des Moines Register,
Des Moines Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Irvine office campus snags $32 million The office campus Centerstone Plaza sold in mid-January for $32 million.—
Samantha Gowen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The highest debut on the latest frame belongs to Madison Beer, the American singer-songwriter whose third album Locket (LOUD/Sony) snags a podium entry, just behind Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving (Universal), down 1-2.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The neighborhood/area The hotel sits in the North Loop area of Minneapolis, blocks away from the iconic Hennepin Street Bridge with easy access to the riverfront parks along the Mississippi, with their great cycling and walking trails and varied perspectives on the city.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The orientation of entrances blocks front desk employees from seeing activity in the lobby area.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And when transportation snarls, that means any business that needs somebody to be somewhere at a particular time feels an immediate impact.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The lengthy delays to get through security checkpoints come as more travelers are going on trips for spring break and running into snarls because of the partial government shutdown.—
Austin Denean,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the northeastern state of Alagoas, some prisoners were handed a Kindle with 300 literary works on them, whereas other, more conservative states have heavy bureaucracy which hinders access, Dias said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The instruments used to make antimatter create interference that hinders its study.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Vegetation clogs its steep banks.—
David Bauerlein,
Florida Times-Union,
6 Feb. 2026
-
That clogs the judicial system, wastes limited resources, and delays justice for those with legitimate grievances.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The armored one skirts stems, mushrooms, and sleeping crickets before sinking her mandibles into the fallen leaf of a hydrangea.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That’s not to defend his piece but rather to consider the context from which all his work stems.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Let go of whatever impedes your growth.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The weir prohibits the flow of saltwater into the lagoon and impedes the draining of sediment from the lagoon into the ocean.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bottlenecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottlenecks. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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