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
There’s a moment every captain knows well: The sky darkens, the wind picks up and the sea turns choppy.
—
Wayne Anderman, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Things get a bit choppy and the ending lacks punch, but the performances from Kroll and Rannells are priceless and save the film from itself.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
And that choppy, fractured feeling — as if the team wasn’t fully coalesced — spilled into the regular season.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Trading was again choppy after Moody's late Friday downgraded its rating on U.S. government debt.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Wayne Anderman, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Things get a bit choppy and the ending lacks punch, but the performances from Kroll and Rannells are priceless and save the film from itself.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
And that choppy, fractured feeling — as if the team wasn’t fully coalesced — spilled into the regular season.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 17 May 2025
Trading was again choppy after Moody's late Friday downgraded its rating on U.S. government debt.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 20 May 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
-
Ransom Canyon star Josh Duhamel didn’t have a rough time getting to know the set of his new film Off the Grid because the actor lives off the grid in real-life.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
Avoid scrubbing the microwave’s interior with rough materials like steel wool or abrasive sponges.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Although access is limited, occasional special tours allow visitors to glimpse the staggering quantity of bullion stored below ground.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Colorado and Arizona State offer little more than an occasional flash.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Additionally, although each member of the crew has their own particular skillset, the time spent on individual characters is uneven, and a smaller cast would have likely made things more effective.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
25 June 2025
-
Moreover, the legal playing field itself can be quite uneven.—
Mark Berookim,
Forbes.com,
24 June 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
-
That amounts to success through delay—a repeatable outcome, sustained through intermittent precision attacks.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
Despite the relentless pre-match hype montages, intermittent deluges of FIFA self-congratulation and the blasting of Robbie Williams’ hilariously self-parodic tournament theme song at half-time.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Washington — The Senate passed a landmark piece of legislation to regulate crypto after a bumpy path through the upper chamber.—
June 17,
CBS News,
17 June 2025
-
Consonant-heavy words lumber and stumble across a bumpy verbal landscape.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
What’s more frustrating is that neither of the bracket’s two best overall performers will be proceeding on to the semifinals, and in hindsight, one of them — Acid Betty — really wasn’t given a chance.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
-
The most frustrating character on The Bear continues to be Claire (Molly Gordon), whose on-screen role in Season 3 was limited, but whose importance even as an unseen force has grown and grown.—
Linda Holmes,
NPR,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choppy. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share