decongest
Open clogged airways
To decongest is to relieve congestion—clearing blocked passages or reducing overcrowding.
Most often applied to nasal passages: This spray will decongest your sinuses.
The word also appears in urban planning contexts: The new bypass should decongest the downtown area.
The noun is decongestion; the agent is a decongestant.
Remove an obstruction
- drainChannel for wastewater
- plungerSuction device for clogs
- snakeLimbless scaled reptile
- pipeHollow conveyance channel
blockage · clogged · sewer · backup · overflow · plumbing · rooter · cleanout
Air-filled skull cavities
- mucusProtective bodily secretion
- nasalOf the nose
- breatheExchange air through lungs
- stuffyLacking fresh air
blocked · spray · saline · menthol · eucalyptus · steam · inhale · nostrils
Respiratory chest organs
- bronchialOf lung airways
- chestRibcage region or strongbox
- phlegmViscous airway secretion
- expectorantMedication promoting mucus discharge
mucolytic · cough · bronchodilator · inhaler · pulmonary · asthma · pneumonia · wheeze
Complete mutual obstruction
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- circulationMovement through a system
- lanesParallel traffic divisions
highway · intersection · rush-hour · commute · bypass · detour · reroute · signal
Capacity exceeded dangerously
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
- zoningSectioning areas by use
- sprawlExtend in disorderly fashion
- decentralizeDistribute control outward
infrastructure · transit · pedestrian · planning · housing · relocation · parks · greenspace
unclog
Remove an obstruction
pipe · blockage · clogged · sewer · backup · overflow · plumbing · rooter · cleanout · drainpipe
sinuses
Air-filled skull cavities
stuffy · blocked · spray · saline · menthol · eucalyptus · steam · inhale · nostrils · passages
lungs
Respiratory chest organs
expectorant · mucolytic · cough · bronchodilator · inhaler · pulmonary · asthma · pneumonia · wheeze · breathing
gridlock
Complete mutual obstruction
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- circulationMovement through a system
lanes · highway · intersection · rush-hour · commute · bypass · detour · reroute · signal · throughput
overcrowding
Capacity exceeded dangerously
decentralize · infrastructure · transit · pedestrian · planning · housing · relocation · parks · greenspace · distribute
- nasal decongestantsDrugs relieving sinus congestion
- decongestant sprayMedicine clearing blocked airways
decongestant, decongestants, decongestion, decongested, decongests, decongesting