1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a sharp, choppy wind coming off the lake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Market technicians think the move could cap further upside in 2025, which will likely be defined by choppy, sideways action after the bull run of the past two calendar years.
—
Sarah Min, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025
Chamberlain’s daring hairstyle, which also featured choppy baby bangs, required a team of hair pros including stylist Sami Knight, cutter Frank (who goes by @fabulousfrank on Instagram) and colorist Anthony Vincent Ronquillo.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Two months into the year, and things have gotten a bit choppy.
—Alicia Wallace and Matt Stiles, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Late last year Charles Cohen’s media group hit choppy waters when the company was forced to sell multiple assets including British arthouse exhibitor and distributor Curzon to Fortress Investment Group.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Sarah Min, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025
Chamberlain’s daring hairstyle, which also featured choppy baby bangs, required a team of hair pros including stylist Sami Knight, cutter Frank (who goes by @fabulousfrank on Instagram) and colorist Anthony Vincent Ronquillo.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Two months into the year, and things have gotten a bit choppy.
—Alicia Wallace and Matt Stiles, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
Late last year Charles Cohen’s media group hit choppy waters when the company was forced to sell multiple assets including British arthouse exhibitor and distributor Curzon to Fortress Investment Group.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choppy
Adjective
-
But the absence of The Rock—the catalyst of this entire turn—throughout the entire build of WrestleMania, mixed with the sporadic appearances from Cena, hurt the storytelling of what could have been a deeply complex villain.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Justin Turner has been among those helping Workman navigate his first experience with life in the big leagues and sporadic playing time.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But after a rough start, Budenholzer benched Nurkić and removed him from the rotation.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Two paratroopers were injured after a rough landing that was caught on video at a baseball game in Arizona.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The house that the Americans strategically position themselves in is home to two families; there are occasional insert shots of family photos and trinkets, and at several points these families are shown cowering, terrified by what’s happening around them.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2025
-
In general, bigleaf hydrangeas require little pruning, save for occasional shaping and thinning.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The formula combines powerful but gentle ingredients like tranexamic acid, kojic acid, and niacinamide to tackle dark spots, acne scars, and uneven tone.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
15 Apr. 2025
-
But with the addition of meaty tires, the result is bobbling side to side on uneven pavement, and the occasional entertaining hop over water channels at boulevard intersections.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Busch's team, Richard Childress Racing, has also struggled with inconsistent finishes, leading many to speculate that the NASCAR veteran has been considering retirement.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
-
His current form may be inconsistent at best, but Finau believes the best results of his career are still ahead of him.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
During intermittent periods for minutes at a time, the NYPD and MTAPD strategically closed certain doors temporarily out of the hundreds of doors throughout the terminal to prevent additional demonstrators from entering.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Invisible geckos belt out intermittent clicks from the foliage, as brown pelicans sweep lazily across the sky, patrolling the shoreline for their daily fill.—
Ashlee Marie Preston,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Their relationship was a bumpy one, yet oddly enough, neither had anything to do with the other’s ousting.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
9 Apr. 2025
-
There have been some bumpy days in their friendship, notably between 2007 and 2010 when Ovechkin took a number of runs at Malkin during games, which illustrated a strain in their friendship for a time.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Very few things are more frustrating than Wi-Fi that lags mid-stream, mid-binge, or mid-video calls.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
-
As frustrating as learning my bearings can be at times, the a-ha moments are always a joy.—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choppy. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share