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Synonyms

congested

British  
/ kənˈdʒɛstɪd /

adjective

  1. crowded to excess; overfull

  2. (of an organ or part) loaded or clogged with blood

  3. (of the nose) blocked with mucus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Explanation

If you are having trouble breathing, you keep sneezing, and your head feels like it might explode, you may very well be congested. In other words, fluid may have built up in your sinuses and your lungs. Being congested is a typical but very unpleasant symptom of the common cold. This adjective literally means “clogged,” “overcrowded,” or “overfull.” Congested is also used to describe arteries that are clogged, cities that are overpopulated, and roads that are full of traffic.

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Vocabulary lists containing congested

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The ships that are now stuck would also need about a day or two to berth, load and depart the congested terminals, depending on their cargo.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

NordVPN’s performance was stable, though occasional buffering occurred on congested servers during peak hours.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

But these overland routes are too congested, expensive and insufficient to make up for the paralysis of traditional routes, Schneider said.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

When airspace is suddenly shut or congested, controllers communicate with pilots about where they need to go, how much fuel they have and which airports can accommodate their type of aircraft.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

With her dry hand, she picked up a congested ashtray from the window seat and carried it with her over to the night table, on which the phone stood.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger