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

Thin, choppy bangs lay flat on her forehead, tickling the tops of her eyebrows. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 July 2025

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

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