1
as in sporadic
lacking in steadiness or regularity of occurrence
a sharp, choppy wind coming off the lake
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of choppy
Passengers may notice seasickness bags placed around the ship, just in case, and some programming, such as lectures, could be pared back if the waves get especially choppy.
—
Nathan Diller, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
With Fed leadership changes ahead and inflation data still choppy, uncertainty is driving market behavior.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Union’s pixie, with its long choppy layers, is more akin to the Christy cut, so named for ’90s supermodel Christy Turlington, which is an even longer version of the pixie cut that is also trending this year.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2026
Disney has navigated the choppy waters better than most with the bold decision to embrace streaming by pouring the company’s top resources into Disney+, Hulu and now the stand-alone ESPN app.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Nathan Diller, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
With Fed leadership changes ahead and inflation data still choppy, uncertainty is driving market behavior.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Union’s pixie, with its long choppy layers, is more akin to the Christy cut, so named for ’90s supermodel Christy Turlington, which is an even longer version of the pixie cut that is also trending this year.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2026
Disney has navigated the choppy waters better than most with the bold decision to embrace streaming by pouring the company’s top resources into Disney+, Hulu and now the stand-alone ESPN app.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choppy
Adjective
-
Siffre took a sporadic approach to releasing music over the years, dropping six albums in a five-year span during the ’70s, including his standout LP Crying Laughing Loving Lying, before retiring.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
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With Yemen challenged by the social and economic effects of a sporadic but ongoing civil war between Houthi rebels and the central government, conditions have proven difficult for Almatrahi and his family members to visit their homeland.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Frog Lake huts are remote structures miles from the Boreal Ski Resort and are in an area known for being prone to avalanches and difficult to reach in winter due to rough conditions, according to the Truckee Donner Land Trust.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Tricia Tuttle has had a rough week.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Here's a breakdown of the somewhat confusing chain of events from this week.—
Hannah Hudnall,
Louisville Courier Journal,
12 Feb. 2026
-
What’s confusing is that Kevan is so confused to be stood up.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Senior royals, usually greeted by cheering crowds, have in recent years faced occasional heckles from members of the public relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
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Yes, Florida comes with the occasional hurricane, but the tradeoff is daily sunshine, endless outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and the chance to wake up somewhere that feels like a permanent vacation.—
Carrie Honaker,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This top is business in the front (the draped, halter neckline and uneven hem) and a party in the back (the open back).—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
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Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a real-time planning and control framework that significantly improves how two-legged robots recover from sudden disturbances while walking on uneven or moving terrain.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That approach is inconsistent with Texas law and unfair to taxpayers.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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Tagovailoa got benched last year because of his inconsistent performance and lack of velocity on his throws.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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How the Study Worked In the study, 72 inactive adults with panic disorder who weren’t taking medications as treatment completed a 12-week program of brief intermittent intense exercise or relaxation training.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Feb. 2026
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Due to its durability and rapid response time, the team expects the technology to be used to stabilize power grids and manage the intermittent output of renewable energy sources.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Sumo Citrus is a large, premium fruit known for its bumpy top knot, easy-to-peel skin, and extra-sweet flavor.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
11 Feb. 2026
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Take pictures of your rash to show your provider, and tell them if the area was bumpy or flat.—
Ruth Jessen Hickman,
Health,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choppy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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