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
Although fast-ramping, shaky-cam visuals and choppy editing frequently hobble the inspired fight choreography, Sam’s character motivations always remain at the forefront of the big set-pieces, from the hot-curling iron nunchucks in the solarium to the firehose fight in the whisky room.
—
Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 June 2025
Many days will evoke the feeling of choppy waters and, just as common, being completely adrift.
—Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
Just be aware that the water can get choppy, and the sea air is chilly even in the warmest months.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025
The rest of the afternoon was choppy among all three indices.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 June 2025
Many days will evoke the feeling of choppy waters and, just as common, being completely adrift.
—Xochitl Gonzalez, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
Just be aware that the water can get choppy, and the sea air is chilly even in the warmest months.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025
The rest of the afternoon was choppy among all three indices.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choppy
Adjective
-
Coaches and players who had meticulously calibrated fitness programs for 2024 were forced into an extended holding pattern, trying to maintain sharpness through sporadic friendlies and local camps.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
However, with Brooks Lee, Kody Clemens and Lewis receiving the bulk of the playing time, at-bats became more sporadic for Bride, who only had eight hits in his last 58 at-bats for the Twins.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
Most young kids who are just getting used to their animal friends tend to be a little rough with them at first.—
Marilyn La Jeunesse,
Parents,
9 July 2025
-
His second and third seasons were especially rough.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Several chains have announced deals to mark the occasional on their websites, in social media or in news releases.—
Fielding Buck,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
-
Millions of children play sports with overwhelmingly positive outcomes, despite the occasional scraped knee, or in rare and tragic cases, serious injuries and even death.—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
The pandemic may have accelerated long-standing public health challenges, and the recovery, the study makes clear, has been uneven and incomplete.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
Spongy or uneven surfaces are caused by structural weakening from internal damage.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Since 2024, luxury brands from conglomerates like Kering, LVMH and Richemont have experienced inconsistent quarters of sales growth and decline.—
Emma Sandler,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
The talented but inconsistent 22-year-old forward has tantalized the Warriors with his athleticism and scoring, and frustrated with his mental lapses and on-court gaffes, for four seasons since being the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
However, the available data indicates that for the past several months there has been a persistent presence of hydrogen sulfide, causing intermittent exposure to levels that some studies and environmental health experts suggest can cause respiratory complications.—
Tammy Murga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 July 2025
-
Itasca received intermittent voice messages from Earhart as her signal increased.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Still, their relationship has always been bumpier than either likely hoped.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2025
-
Win or lose, a Newsom campaign for the White House would be a bumpy ride.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Copycat Conundrum: When Local Laws Protect Your Competitors Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of international franchising involves dealing with local copycat operations that exploit legal protections designed for domestic businesses.—
Mohaimina Haque,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
While these noises may not impact your daily life much, your neighbors deciding to start their yardwork could be frustrating.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choppy. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share