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
Besides her own headlining set, karaoke queen Clarkson is sure to be asked to stick around for the festival’s traditional closing night jam of all-1990s covers. — Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 The Gram 17 is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 3) processor that’s built to handle demanding multitasking sessions, local AI tasks, and even 1080p gaming if that’s your jam. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
The team identified a process known as jamming, in which the movement of these regions becomes increasingly restricted. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026 Today the groves of thuja are interrupted with summer mansions and the sandy parking lot by the beach is jammed with cars, but the mountains are still mountains and the long lake still stretches far away between them. — James Whorton Jr, Longreads, 13 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
  • Sauces and pickles checked in the walk-in cooler are at 42 degrees.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Recently a box showcased sweet, custardy amaebi, salmon belly, chum ikura, uni, toro, Hokkaido hotate, octopus and kizami wasabi adorned with various flowers and pickles.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of pickle
Verb
  • Miami stopped on fourth down again Canes stuffed on fourth down for a second consecutive drive.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • On the first play, the Jayhawks stuffed Joe Jackson — on his eighth straight rushing attempt — from the 1 on fourth down, leaving Kansas State’s lead at 25-24.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of stuff
Verb
  • Antetokounmpo also blocked a Noah Clowney dunk attempt a few minutes later, and then got the ball back for a spinning finger roll on the other end.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • As Wrigley View Rooftop sees it, there’s no limiting principle allowing one sports business to block a neighbor from selling seats with a view.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of block
Verb
  • Tear gas filled the area, and Nathaniel saw two attackers in the back of a pickup with automatic weapons.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Richards signed a nonguaranteed one-year deal in late August to fill the 14th spot on the Heat’s standard roster.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of fill
Verb
  • Torrential rain has pushed all three waterways higher for days, spilling them over their banks in northeastern Argentina, southern Paraguay and western Uruguay.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Audit reports, supplier codes of conduct and corporate sustainability pledges have made up the bulk of brands’ efforts to push a more ecological and socially aware agenda, but times have changed.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of push
Noun
  • Grid-enhancing technologies can raise transmission capacity, ease congestion, and improve the efficiency of existing assets.
    — Dr. Sarah Kapnick, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Finally, grab 18% off the TP-Link AXE75 Wi-Fi 6E Router, providing congestion-free tri-band speeds and low-latency performance.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of congestion
Noun
  • The Soviet Union’s 1957 launch of the Sputnik satellite posed a profound dilemma for NATO.
    — Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The dilemma reveals one of the structural flaws in American healthcare.
    — Dylan Scott, Vox, 15 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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