choppy

1 of 2

adjective (1)

chop·​py ˈchä-pē 

choppier; choppiest

1

: being roughened : chapped

2

: rough with small waves

3

a

: interrupted by ups and downs

choppy terrain

a choppy career

b

: jerky

short choppy strides

c

: disconnected

choppy writing

choppily

ˈchä-pə-lē 

adverb

choppy

2 of 2

adjective (2)

choppier; choppiest

: changeable, variable

a choppy wind

Synonyms

Adjective (1)

• sporadic
• occasional
• intermittent
• erratic
• sudden
• unsteady

Examples of choppy in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

a sharp, choppy wind coming off the lake

the old cable car provides a picturesque but choppy ride to the mountain's peak

the plot was intriguing, but the author's style was so choppy that I finally gave up in frustration

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

And spoiler alert: Paddling back is no joke in choppy waters. —Zekeriya Polat, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

One foggy morning this spring, a ferryboat traversed the choppy waters between lower Manhattan and Governors Island. —Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025

The choppy, layered hairstyle gives a messy, undone look that has tons of movement and delivers natural-looking volume. —Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 25 July 2025

The euro was choppy following the ECB decision, trading around 0.08% lower against the U.S. dollar at 5:32 p.m. in London at $1.176. —Jenni Reid, CNBC, 24 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

chop entry 2

Adjective (2)

chop entry 3

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1865, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for choppy

• copy
• floppy
• poppy
• sloppy
• atopy
• photocopy

Kids Definition

choppy

1 of 2 adjective

chop·​py ˈchäp-ē 

choppier; choppiest

: changeable sense 1, variable

choppy wind

choppy

2 of 2 adjective

choppier; choppiest

1

: rough with small waves

the lake was choppy

2

: marked by sudden stops and starts : not connected smoothly

short choppy sentences

choppiness noun