choppy

1 of 2

adjective (1)

chop·​py ˈchä-pē How to pronounce choppy (audio)
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 adverb

choppy

2 of 2

adjective (2)

choppier; choppiest
: changeable, variable
a choppy wind

Examples of choppy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
For anyone looking to travel to remote places with choppy waters, a trawler is a great option, which is why a Dutch entrepreneur wound up converting one into his ultimate explorer yacht. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024 So even though the stock market seems relatively calm, there’s a lot of choppy water in the world of interest rates. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024 Walking neck deep into the choppy red-and-black waves, with the volume battering ear drums, is a 40-minute assignment. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024 But the production on opening night had the choppy quality of a workshop. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024 The company tends to grow by acquisition, which leads to choppy revenues and cash flows, though its $1-per-share payout has held up over the past couple years. Brett Owens, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024 Admirers of Assayas hoping for a return to form after 2019’s frustratingly choppy and tangled spy thriller, Wasp Network, will have to keep waiting. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024 But market volatility has returned, and the waters have grown choppier for traders. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024 Then, after an up-and-down spring training, Rodriguez opened the season in Triple-A, and the team used his choppy camp as reasoning. Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'choppy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of choppy was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near choppy

Cite this Entry

“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choppy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

choppy

1 of 2 adjective
chop·​py ˈchäp-ē How to pronounce choppy (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on choppy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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