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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of choppy
On the title track, for instance, the guitar is choppy and churning, and the horn is twisting and relentless, and the music seems to be propelled through force of will.
—
Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
The layers and slightly choppy finish make for a lower-maintenance style.
—Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2025
The video shows the choppy waters as first responders assist the distressed passengers.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The Shag Originated in the late 1960s and popularized in the 1970s, the shag cut is comprised of short, choppy layers around the face, muting the body of hair on the sides.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
The layers and slightly choppy finish make for a lower-maintenance style.
—Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2025
The video shows the choppy waters as first responders assist the distressed passengers.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025
The Shag Originated in the late 1960s and popularized in the 1970s, the shag cut is comprised of short, choppy layers around the face, muting the body of hair on the sides.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choppy
Adjective
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Kiir and Machar had served in a unity government as part of a peace deal that ended the civil war, but their partnership remained tenuous and sporadic violence has continued between the two sides.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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If done right, rather than being a sporadic on-again, off-again (and, perhaps, threatening) part of workplace life, change will be embraced as a foundational attribute of your organization’s entrepreneurial culture.—
Julia Dhar,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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After their rough start to SEC play, the Razorbacks finished with an 8-10 conference record, good enough to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.—
Michael Harley,
Arkansas Online,
12 Sep. 2025
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Despite its rough appearance, the system helped operators better judge distance and handle tasks more precisely.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And determining when someone is dead is the critical but confusing question at play.—
Cara Anthony,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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For example, the eye glass space was largely fractured, confusing, and not customer-friendly before Warby Parker entered the scene with exceptional client experience, a focus on customer service and convenience, and a user-friendly product.—
Brandon Aversano,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In August 2023, Perez – a tourism official who manages the island’s biggest concert venue, the Coliseo – got a phone call from two producers for Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, the genre-bending Puerto Rican rapper, singer, actor and occasional professional wrestler better known as Bad Bunny.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
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About the series This is the second this year in an occasional series on 2025 winners of the annual WaterSmart Landscape Contest, conducted in partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Even when Clark returned, her performance was uneven.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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This helps smooth out fingerprints or uneven spots, giving the frame a more professional look.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For an island whose economy has long wrestled with the effects and aftershocks of natural disasters, fiscal crises, and inconsistent tourism, this is a very significant boost.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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All of these changes lead to reduced and inconsistent blood flow within your blood vessels and may increase the likelihood of blood clots.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, subsidies continue to favor intermittent renewables over firm capacity.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Among the variations to consider are situations where one career takes the most time, or one is intermittent, or both are part-time or perhaps seasonal.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Tickets must be purchased online in advance, and a slow, bumpy road leads to the parking lot.—
Paul Bersebach,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
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The road doesn’t have to be bumpy.—
Sonali Bloom,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choppy. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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