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
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2025
Reuters interviewed 10 industry figures, including people at Toyota and its suppliers, who described bottlenecks affecting the hybrid supply chain.
—Aditi Shah and Norihiko Shirouzu, USA Today, 31 Mar. 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
Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Noun
In this view, progress is always being throttled by bottlenecks, which—to the relief of some people—will slow the integration of A.I. into our society.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2025
Reuters interviewed 10 industry figures, including people at Toyota and its suppliers, who described bottlenecks affecting the hybrid supply chain.
—Aditi Shah and Norihiko Shirouzu, USA Today, 31 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
Even if China is able to build formidable models thanks to efficiency gains, export controls will likely bottleneck their ability to deploy their models to a wide userbase.
—Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
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For lunch there are soups, salads, quiches and toasts, such as avocado toast or peanut butter and jam.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
7 Apr. 2025
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After a pair of visits by pitching coach Pete Maki, Alcalde got out of the jam by striking out Yordan Alvarez looking and getting Christian Walker to fly out.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Who knows where the progress that Haiti was making on its own linear path would have taken it?—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
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Comcast late last year announced plans to spin off its cable outlets, including the progressive cable channel, as the company, like many others, takes major losses on its linear television assets and looks to retool itself around digital and streaming offerings.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This combined with nitrogen pollution and the upriver damming of the Ocklawaha River has adversely affected whole ecosystems.—
William McQuilkin,
Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2025
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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
Verb
-
Take breaks: Because makeup can clog pores, cause irritation, and expose you to chemicals, going without it one or two days per week can help your skin recover from stress and rebalance itself.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Ash can smother crops, block sunlight and clog the tiny stomata, or pores, in leaves that allow plants to exchange gases with the atmosphere.—
David Kitchen,
The Conversation,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Arbitrary rules shouldn’t hinder deserved recognition.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Objections from the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), however, may hinder plans for the new landing pads on the South Pacific atoll.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The most powerful performance —compressed, sorrowful — comes from The Matrix's Joe Pantoliano.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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Flexible work arrangements—Negotiate for remote work options, a compressed workweek or flexible hours that support work-life balance.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In contrast, saucer feeders allow the hummingbird to use its long tongue, as long as bees don’t enter and block the ports.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2025
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Instead, block unwanted calls and messages and refuse to provide financial information in response to an unexpected request.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Maintaining a vigorous, healthy lawn is a good way to impede weed establishment and problematic perennials like dandelions.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
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Williams’ Carlos Sainz initially qualified 12th but was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Hamilton, causing a shakeup in the order of those who were knocked out in Q2.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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