choppy

1 of 2

adjective (1)

chop·​py ˈchä-pē How to pronounce choppy (audio)
choppier; choppiest
Synonyms of choppynext
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
choppily adverb

choppy

2 of 2

adjective (2)

choppier; choppiest
: changeable, variable
a choppy wind

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
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.
Adjective
The high winds and choppy water conditions made the search efforts slow and difficult, officials said. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026 Clinging onto a one-point lead at the end of the second quarter, the packed crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center was mostly quiet as a choppy first half kept the New York Liberty at arm’s length of the Valkyries’ lead for much of the first two quarters. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 29 June 2026 Texas Game Wardens are searching Benbrook Lake for a missing man in a possible drowning, but high winds and choppy water slowed rescue efforts Saturday, an official said. Doug Myers, CBS News, 27 June 2026 This Thursday was an extremely choppy session with a roughly 4% peak to trough range on the day. Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for choppy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

chop entry 2

Adjective (2)

chop entry 3

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of choppy was circa 1616

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choppy. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

choppy

1 of 2 adjective
chop·​py ˈchäp-ē How to pronounce choppy (audio)
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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