| Main Entry: | bottleneck |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | obstacle |
Synonyms: |
barrier, block, blockage, clog, congestion, hindrance, hold-up, impediment, jam, obstruction, snag, traffic jam |
| Main Entry: | canal |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | waterway |
Synonyms: |
aqueduct, bottleneck, channel, choke point, conduit, course, cove, ditch, duct, estuary, firth, trench, water, watercourse |
| Main Entry: | check |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hinder, restrain |
Synonyms: |
arrest, baffle, bar, bit, bottleneck, bridle, checkmate, choke, circumvent, constrain, control, counteract, curb, cut short, delay, discourage, foil, frustrate, halt, harness, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, impede, inhibit, interrupt, keep back, limit, moderate, neutralize, nip in the bud, obstruct, obviate, pause, play for time, preclude, prevent, rebuff, reduce, rein in, repress, repulse, retard, slacken pace, slow down, snub, squelch, stay, stop, suppress, tame, terminate, thwart, withhold |
Antonyms: |
aid, allow, assist, expedite, help, indulge, liberate, permit |
| Main Entry: | congestion |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | blockage |
Synonyms: |
bottleneck, clogging, crowdedness, crowding, excess, jam, mass, overcrowding, overdevelopment, overpopulation, press, profusion, rubber-necking, snarl-up, surfeit, surplus, traffic jam |
Antonyms: |
opening |
| Main Entry: | gridlock |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | traffic jam |
Synonyms: |
barrier, blockage, bottleneck, clog, congestion, impasse, logjam, obstacle, stoppage |
| Main Entry: | hinder |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | prevent, slow down |
Synonyms: |
arrest, balk, bar, block, bottleneck, box in, burden, check, choke, clog, contravene, counteract, crab, cramp, crimp, cripple, curb, debar, delay, deter, encumber, fetter, frustrate, get in the way, hamper, hamstring, handicap, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere, interrupt, louse up, muzzle, neutralize, obstruct, offset, oppose, preclude, prohibit, resist, retard, shut out, snafu, stay, stop, stymie*, terminate, thwart, trammel |
Antonyms: |
advance, aid, allow, assist, encourage, facilitate, forward, further, help, permit, promote, push |
| Main Entry: | holdup |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | problem |
Synonyms: |
bottleneck, delay, difficulty, gridlock, hitch, obstruction, setback, snag, stoppage, traffic jam, trouble, wait |
Antonyms: |
aid, assistance, help |
| Main Entry: | impediment |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | obstruction, hindrance |
Synonyms: |
Catch-22, bar, barricade, barrier, block, blockage, bottleneck, burden, catch*, chain, check, clog, cramp, curb, dead weight, defect, delay, deterrent, detriment, difficulty, disadvantage, drag*, drawback, encumbrance, fault, flaw, handicap, hazard, hitch, holdup, hurdle, inhibition, load, manacle, millstone, obstacle, prohibition, red tape, restraint, restriction, retardation, retardment, road block, rub*, setback, shackle, snag, stoppage, stricture, stumbling block, tie, trammel, wall |
Antonyms: |
aid, assistance, facilitation, furtherance, help, support |
| Main Entry: | strait |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | crisis, difficulty |
Synonyms: |
bewilderment, bind, bottleneck, choke point, contingency, crossroad, dilemma, distress, embarrassment, emergency, exigency, extremity, hardship, hole*, mess*, mystification, pass, perplexity, pinch*, plight, predicament, rigor, squeeze*, turning point*, vicissitude, zero hour |
Antonyms: |
advantage, solution, success |
| Main Entry: | rush hour |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | heaviest commuter traffic |
Synonyms: |
bottleneck, congestion, gridlock, heavy traffic, jam, road rage, traffic jam |