1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a sharp, choppy wind coming off the lake
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of choppy
Saraf’s rookie season has been choppy, even by the standards of a rebuilding team that’s been cycling through young players all year.
—
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
Seas were slightly choppy downrange, but the skies were clear for the booster recovery.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Kim says choppy layers make for a cool and edgy vibe.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Small craft should exercise caution over the Atlantic waters and the Keys waters due to choppy conditions on the bay.
—Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choppy
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
Seas were slightly choppy downrange, but the skies were clear for the booster recovery.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Kim says choppy layers make for a cool and edgy vibe.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Small craft should exercise caution over the Atlantic waters and the Keys waters due to choppy conditions on the bay.
—Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choppy
Adjective
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Roberts said Kim would benefit from getting more consistent playing time in Triple-A rather than getting sporadic playing time in the major leagues.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
23 Mar. 2026
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Borek credited Muszelik with perhaps an even tougher challenge of having to stave off sporadic waves, versus the consistent pressure Lundgren faced.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Based on the book by Bart Baker, Honeymoon with Harry follows a rough-around-the-edges man (Gyllenhaal) who ends up sharing an unwanted journey with his fiancée’s prickly, overprotective father (Costner) after a life-altering turn upends their plans.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
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Even if the promo is rough around the edges, Hartline creates a space that encourages creativity.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The cash issue is confusing to many, as Media Capital Technologies has touted backing from MassMutual, a sizeable insurance and financial services company.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
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In lesser hands, this could have been confusing; instead all the banter between a rock-spider-crawly alien entity and a handsome de-facto astronaut comes across as engaging and funny.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Besides the lush vegetation and the occasional passing car, there are no other signs of life.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
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Skies remain mostly sunny Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27, with only occasional clouds or brief showers possible.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Everything—from the squat, one-story structure to the station wagon parked outside—had been coated in the same uneven layer of white paint, as if someone had tried, hurriedly, to erase it from the landscape.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
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However, adoption remains uneven across sectors, reflecting differences in digital readiness and creating varied credit implications.—
Lee Ying Shan,Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Beyond detention, the shutdown has had inconsistent impacts on DHS oversight more broadly, lawmakers and immigration lawyers said in interviews.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
21 Mar. 2026
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Instead, prosecutors have pointed to sanctions policy and national security concerns — arguments the defense calls both insufficient and inconsistent.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The airport staffing reductions have caused intermittent security delays at airports around the country, particularly in Texas, Florida and the New York City area.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
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Fat burning is likely comparable between intermittent fasting and the keto diet, but intermittent fasting may be more sustainable in the long term.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Smith had a bumpy final spring outing, allowing four runs on two hits in 3 1/3 innings.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
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The Lakers took the bumpy route to overtime, requiring maximum execution on a play where the odds sway heavily against the individual.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choppy. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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