choppy

adjective

ˈchä-pē How to pronounce choppy (audio)
Definition of choppynext
1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence a sharp, choppy wind coming off the lake

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rough
marked by a series of sharp quick motions the old cable car provides a picturesque but choppy ride to the mountain's peak

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3
as in confusing
not clearly or logically connected the plot was intriguing, but the author's style was so choppy that I finally gave up in frustration

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 choppy Aivaliotis is among Kalamos’ seven teenagers who today make a choppy crossing to school on the mainland. — Lefteris Pitarakis, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 Cincy was penalized 11 times for 108 yards, making for a choppy game at times, especially in the first half. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 The Coast Guard released video footage earlier this week showing rescue swimmers saving people from the choppy water and hoisting them into helicopters hovering above. — David Goodhue october 2, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 Bloys is a near 25-year veteran of HBO who has steered TV’s most prestigious brand through choppy waters and three massive corporate takeovers in eight years. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for choppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choppy
  1. sporadic
  2. rough
  3. confusing
  4. occasional
  5. uneven
  6. inconsistent
  7. intermittent
  8. bumpy
Adjective
  • That said, devolving tropical storms can pack a punch with sporadic gusts and showers as the energy that was formerly bundled in the storm’s center releases outward.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • There were sporadic film entries from the 1970s on, but most of Saint’s work during that era (and well into the 2000s) would be for television.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of sporadic
Adjective
  • Lemmo With this kind of kit, the Lemmo 3 should be up to the task of tackling steep inclines and all manner of rough terrain.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The controls and graphics are pretty rough on GameCube, though.
    — Verge Staff, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • Letting go of genre might sound confusing when the album’s named Popstar, but to Tinashe, a pop star is so much more than a genre label.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In recent years, homeowners, developers and businesses have complained that navigating the Planning Department can be complicating and confusing.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of confusing
Adjective
  • The significance of the work goes beyond eliminating the occasional frustrating chatbot conversation.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026
  • An occasional bird would chirp in the distance, but the forest emanated an eerie stillness, said Young, a research ecologist at the University of California, Davis.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of occasional
Adjective
  • This formula features mandelic acid for gentle exfoliation and niacinamide to brighten uneven tone.
    — Glamour, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026
  • His results, along with those of James, have been uneven so far.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • Even the actors’ bodies exhibit the bland greige produced by the high dynamic range of digital cameras and are flattened by the inconsistent lighting that comes from overuse of green screens.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In Finance​ Give agentic AI fragmented data, inconsistent processes or unclear ownership, and those weaknesses become part of how the technology operates.
    — Ari Widlansky, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of inconsistent
Adjective
  • There are still intermittent closures and construction connected to recovery projects, and the park service recommends consulting the road status section of its website when traveling to the region.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
  • My prototype suffered from intermittent rolling resistance with the motor off.
    — Thomas Ricker, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of intermittent
Adjective
  • September was a bumpy ride for stocks and bonds, but strategies using options can help investors generate a little more portfolio income.
    — Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This is the one who shows up, locked and loaded and ready for duty, in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Digger, one bumpy ride of a satire slash symphony-of-burning-Rome-fiddlers.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of bumpy

Browse Nearby Words

chopping (down)
choppy
chops
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Cite this Entry

“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choppy. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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