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
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Geopolitical tensions, supply-chain bottlenecks, or regional conflicts could severely jeopardize China’s energy security.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 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
Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024
The push to build more computationally intense AI systems could be bottlenecked by the intense energy requirements of the largest clusters of semiconductor chips or by a lack of training data.
—Will Henshall, TIME, 3 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for bottleneck 
Noun
As Humphrey exited the Ravens’ locker room and pulled up outside the equipment room, he was surrounded by reporters, creating a bottleneck in the main hallway.
—Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Geopolitical tensions, supply-chain bottlenecks, or regional conflicts could severely jeopardize China’s energy security.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 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
In Tijuana, Jose Garcia Lara, director of the Movimiento Juventud 2000 shelter, worries the executive order could cause a crisis as migrants become bottlenecked in northern Mexico.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024
The push to build more computationally intense AI systems could be bottlenecked by the intense energy requirements of the largest clusters of semiconductor chips or by a lack of training data.
—Will Henshall, TIME, 3 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for bottleneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottleneck
Noun
-
The ability of some vacuum sealers to work with mason jars and canisters also means that things like sauces, jams, and dry goods can be locked away in airtight conditions too.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appétit,
27 Jan. 2025
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Swap out cheddar for goat cheese to make creamy mac 'n cheese, or impress guests with a spread of goat cheese, crackers, and jams at your next dinner party.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The show, which premiered in 1990 and has since grown a cult audience, embraced many of linear television’s conventions while simultaneously defying them as often as possible.—
Emma Stefansky,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2025
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The news media landscape is in transition as fewer people watch linear TV and more consume their news on streaming services and through social media.—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Creative power can be dammed up or forestalled by everyday life, ordinary life, life in the squirrel cage.—
Nate Anderson,
Ars Technica,
4 Jan. 2025
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Key streams that once produced ample salmon — including the lower Snake River — are dammed, which restricts access to and survival of the fish.—
Evan Bush,
NBC News,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Use Retinoids Retinoids, compounds derived from vitamin A, help treat acne and prevent pores from clogging.—
Laura Schober,
Health,
23 Jan. 2025
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In addition to potentially clogging the Heat payroll, Butler also could again limit trades with threats to either not extend or to act out in a similar fashion to what currently has been at play.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As homeowners turn to contractors for the slow process of rebuilding, an immigration policy that deports undocumented workers or forces them underground may hinder the recovery.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
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This detachment can hinder the development of relationship security, which is essential for building healthy relationships in adulthood.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The tape trades each marginal dose of news, and these will be pertinent ones over compressed time frames.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2025
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The compressed size of the court and the smaller arena mean players — and fans — will be able to hear much more on-court chatter.—
Remy Tumin,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Republicans successfully slipped in an amendment to the 2025 defense bill that blocks gender-affirming care for transgender children of the military, legislation that Biden signed into law, although many Democrats objected to the provision.—
Brad Dress,
The Hill,
21 Jan. 2025
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Most disorienting of all might have been the painful memories conjured by the setting for the ceremony itself, inside the Capitol where, four years and two weeks ago, a violent insurrection of Trump supporters sought to block certification of Biden’s victory.—
Susan B. Glasser,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Walker, in fact, explains that one of the by-products of alcohol metabolism is a class of chemicals, known as aldehydes, that are especially prone to impede REM sleep.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
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These teams all have franchise players to build around and some contracts that would impede them from fully committing to the tear-down process.—
Shayna Goldman,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bottleneck
Cite this Entry
“Bottleneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottleneck. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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