jam 1 of 2

noun

Definition of jamnext
1
as in snarl
a crowded mass (as of cars) that impedes or blocks movement thousands of cars trying to leave the stadium's parking lot at the same time are sure to create a jam

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2
as in pickle
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape the heavy rain puts us in a real jam: all of the preparations are for a garden wedding

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jam

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to stuff
to fit (people or things) into a tight space jammed his clothes into the already bulging hamper

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2
as in to block
to prevent passage through by filling with something firefighters found the nightclub's doorways jammed with trapped patrons

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fill
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained the inn will jam a guest's picnic basket with an array of tempting foods

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to push
to force one's way several more people jammed into the bus even though there was hardly room to stand

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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 jam
Noun
The bread is slathered in a thick tomato sauce sweet with tomato jam and roasted pepper. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Bluegrass jams attract spectators who marvel at the players’ pyrotechnics; old-time jams get people on their feet. — David Alm, Longreads, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
Toronto traffic was relentless, the streets jammed, and cyclists zipping among the halting cars posed a hazard to unwary pedestrians. — Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026 These uncrewed aircraft support pilots in F-35s, F-22s, and future F-47s by scouting, jamming electronics, and transporting weapons. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jam
  1. snarl
  2. pickle
  3. stuff
  4. block
  5. fill
  6. push
  7. congestion
  8. dilemma
Noun
  • His Lamb goes from a brash Yorkshire showman to a callous profiteer of human vice and misery, his cheeky smile becoming a vicious snarl.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • This year’s Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer with closures, travel snarls and record gas prices in California.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of snarl
Noun
  • Garlic confit, turkey deli meat, pickles, jalapeño marinade, pesto and an unknown sauce were held past seven days in the walk-in cooler.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Its chicken salad scoop options include Olivia’s Old South (sweet pickles and egg), Jalapeño Holly, Nutty Nanna (with pecans and cashews) and Barbie Q.
    — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of pickle
Verb
  • The Ducks failed, with Tyson Ford and Jalen Woods stuffing Thomas on the one-yard line.
    — Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The kitchen brings that same fruit-forward touch to the truite au crabe, stuffing butterflied trout with crabmeat and baking it in foil alongside fennel root, sweet apples and a bubbly potato gratin.
    — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of stuff
Verb
  • The raise suggests investors aren't deterred by Beijing's unprecedented order to block Meta's short-lived $2 billion acquisition.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In this group, only 3% died of breast cancer after six years, and about 91% had their tumors controlled with primary endocrine therapy, which blocks estrogen receptors on ER+ breast cancer to prevent its growth.
    — Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of block
Verb
  • Chatter in different languages filled the air; there were more thank you’s than grazie’s.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The Cathcarts’ office is gloomy and dark, while the Taylor & Byrne rooms are filled with light and air.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fill
Verb
  • Mockingbird works to push Vietnamese and Southeast Asian films into markets outside their home territories.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The Tarrant County Commissioners Court agenda for Tuesday notably does not include the resolution, but Lawrence said the group will keep pushing for the resolution through public comment.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of push
Noun
  • Crowd congestion is certainly common around these parts, but can be escaped pretty easily and avoided entirely if guests make use of their location to visit these sites early in the morning.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Where is aisle congestion forming before an incident report is ever filed?
    — Allan Malcolm, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of congestion
Noun
  • But aspects such as strong characters, emotional investment, aspirational and authentic journeys, contemporary tensions, real moral dilemmas and complex relationships are what keep you there.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • More broadly, the premiere sets up a deepening of Common Side Effects’ many dilemmas.
    — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of dilemma

Browse Nearby Words

jalopy
jam
jambalaya
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Cite this Entry

“Jam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jam. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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