chop·py
ˈchä-pē 
choppier; choppiest
1
: being roughened : chapped
2
: rough with small waves
3
a
: interrupted by ups and downs
choppy terrain
a choppy career
b
: jerky
short choppy strides
c
: disconnected
choppy writing
Examples of choppy in a Sentence
Adjective (1)
a sharp, choppy wind coming off the lake
the old cable car provides a picturesque but choppy ride to the mountain's peak
the plot was intriguing, but the author's style was so choppy that I finally gave up in frustration
Recent Examples on the Web
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Stocks were choppy for most of Wednesday, losing the burst at the open as investors sat with January's strong-than-expected job growth data, which dimmed the case for a resumption of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Here, Gemma Chan's choppy bangs provide the perfect accessory to her elegant bun.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for choppy
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Adjective
Gold has cemented itself as a safe-haven asset, viewed as a life vest in time of choppy market waters.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
Stocks were choppy for most of Wednesday, losing the burst at the open as investors sat with January's strong-than-expected job growth data, which dimmed the case for a resumption of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Here, Gemma Chan's choppy bangs provide the perfect accessory to her elegant bun.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Cite this Entry
“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choppy. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
choppy
1 of 2 adjective
chop·py
ˈchäp-ē
choppier; choppiest
: changeable sense 1, variable
choppy wind
choppy
2 of 2 adjective
choppier; choppiest
1
: rough with small waves
the lake was choppy
2
: marked by sudden stops and starts : not connected smoothly
short choppy sentences
choppiness
noun
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