bottlenecks 1 of 2

noun

plural of bottleneck
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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bottlenecks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bottleneck
as in snags

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 bottlenecks
Noun
Concerns are growing that the de-facto tolling of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a domino effect for key shipping bottlenecks worldwide, creating more global inflation and effectively killing key components of international maritime law. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026 Supply-chain bottlenecks for chips and an aging electricity grid have led to price spikes. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026 In other news, Space is solving the problem of bottlenecks in the cloud with humans and AI agents trying to access data. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026 That gives the company control over a component that can create serious production bottlenecks. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026 Each of these last-mile bottlenecks affects revenue, expenses, the balance sheet and operations, and ultimately shareholder value, which means that navigating this internal AI delivery problem fits squarely in the CFO’s mandate. — Jim Deloach, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Berkeley Fire Chief Dave Sprague raised safety concerns in 2023 about clearance space for fire engines and evacuation bottlenecks in the case of a fire, which caused the plan to be shelved. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026 Many enterprise and government AI bottlenecks are not purely algorithmic problems. — William Jones, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 Others believe that bottlenecks such as scarce computing power and data will prevent an explosive takeoff. — Harry Booth, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bottlenecks
  1. jams
  2. snags
  3. snarls
  4. blocks
  5. hinders
  6. clogs
  7. stems
  8. impedes
Noun
  • Look North World runs game jams and a publishing program to find platform-native talent.
    — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Meghan has continued to focus on her lifestyle brand As Ever, selling jarred jams, tea sets and candles.
    — Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of jams
Verb
  • Guest judge Willy Chavarria praises how Jeffrey’s outfit moved (my favorite thing about it), but the strength of Naheim’s tromp l’oeil effect snags him the win, immunity for the next challenge, and $20,000 from Viva.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
  • However, the key to this marketplace are the live auctions that generate the FOMO feeling that snags more impulse buys.
    — Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of snags
Noun
  • The wildly popular Instagram page was offline for a hot minute, leaving the general pop pining for videos on the myriad zany happenings in our city, from traffic snarls and celebrity shenanigans to animal encounters and fights outside the club.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • The state Department of Transportation is scheduled to install temporary three-way stop signs at the intersections during a road project that’s already created mind-numbing traffic snarls and angry and confused drivers.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
Definition of snarls
Verb
  • Those vents allow the heat generated by your TV to escape, but when dust blocks them, the internal system can overheat, forcing your TV to work harder.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
  • But Dorsey’s Jesus Jimenez blocks the punt and Henry Badge picks up the bouncing ball in the end zone with no time left for a 19-14 win.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of blocks
Verb
  • Ultimately, glorifying sleep deprivation is counterproductive; prioritizing sleep is key for career longevity and productivity, while chronic insomnia leads to impaired judgment and hinders professional growth.
    — Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Neptune retrograde hinders our intuition, leaving us lost in the fog.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Definition of hinders
Verb
  • The fine powder clogs their digestive systems and prevents them from eating plants.
    — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Their active roster is predominantly right-handed, which clogs up some of the lineup decisions for Roberts.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of clogs
Verb
  • The onslaught stems in part from Ossoff’s status as a potential presidential candidate.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Productivity expert Neal Schore challenges conventional wisdom, arguing that true time loss stems not from poor planning but from internal factors like fear, overthinking, and emotional habits.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of stems
Verb
  • Typically, PAs are putting in 60-hour workweeks, and their duties can include everything from running errands to cleaning up messes to managing the general public when filming takes place in a location and impedes foot or car traffic.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Contempt of Congress is a federal misdemeanor in which an individual willfully disobeys or impedes a congressional investigation.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of impedes

Browse Nearby Words

bottlenecking
bottlenecks
bottles
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Cite this Entry

“Bottlenecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bottlenecks. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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