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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as in linear
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in to dam
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bottleneck
Billy Perrigo, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
Fragmented infrastructure can delay deployment, inflate costs and bottleneck the flow of insights, rendering agentic AI ineffective or incomplete.
—Sahar Hashmi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Billy Perrigo, Time, 1 July 2025
Wi-Fi bottleneck Feld said the 6 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum would be a likely target because deployments in the band are just starting.
—ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bottleneck
Adjective
Currently, experts say, AI’s performance is bottlenecked by these two factors, especially power capacity.
—Billy Perrigo, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
Fragmented infrastructure can delay deployment, inflate costs and bottleneck the flow of insights, rendering agentic AI ineffective or incomplete.
—Sahar Hashmi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Verb
Safety experts have long viewed the difficulty of this troubleshooting process as a significant bottleneck on the ability of terrorist groups to create a bioweapon, says Seth Donoughe, a co-author of the study.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 1 July 2025
Wi-Fi bottleneck Feld said the 6 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum would be a likely target because deployments in the band are just starting.
—ArsTechnica, 30 June 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
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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
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As well as the docking points for the modules, the two keyboards also feature hot-swappable sockets that enable users to instantly switch between linear, clicky or tactile Kailh Mini-Choc switches.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
That much standalone linear cable isn’t likely to be standalone for long.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
9 July 2025
Verb
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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
-
Work started in the 1960s on the Cross Florida Barge Canal, which was planned to create a waterway from Northeast Florida to Yankeetown on the Gulf Coast and included damming the Ocklawaha River.—
Jim Saunders,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2025
Verb
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The 9-foot car lanes are too narrow for buses, and traffic often clogs both lanes.—
Tina Li,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2025
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Skim your pool: Likewise, dead cicadas or shells in your pool or hot tub will clog the filters.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
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This extensive list of options ensures your absence doesn’t hinder your ability to accrue and use your FSA benefits, reflecting a broader understanding of how adaptable life situations and financial planning must be.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
2 July 2025
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In addition to drying out the atmosphere, the dust also increases wind shear and atmospheric stability — two other key factors that can hinder storm formation.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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As our mattress reviewers can attest, the free white-glove delivery process is smooth and won’t leave you lugging a compressed mattress up the stairs.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
3 July 2025
-
Canisters of compressed nitrous oxide work in the same way.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
2 July 2025
Verb
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At the agency, Trainor has muscled support to block Democrats from weaponizing the FEC against Trump and Republicans.—
Paul Bedard,
The Washington Examiner,
7 July 2025
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As a result, the department has blocked student loan forgiveness under these plans.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Will this impede efforts to advance gender equality, especially in technology sectors?—
Lauren Buitta,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
But some of the worst economic effects will be felt by future generations, who, according to one Gen Zer interviewed by CNBC, are already concerned the deficit will impede their ability to collect social services.—
Leslie Picker,
CNBC,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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