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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of choppy
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
While the Grammy winner and former Chick Corea collaborator is clearly a skilled musician, his playing at times had the choppy trepidation of a performer trying to bluff their way through a sight-read.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
The style — characterized by short, choppy layers — was a far cry from her signature blunt cut and middle part.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
In addition, chip system designs, known as architectures, link many chips with fast, common networking to let large models run without lagging or choppy output.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
While the Grammy winner and former Chick Corea collaborator is clearly a skilled musician, his playing at times had the choppy trepidation of a performer trying to bluff their way through a sight-read.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
The style — characterized by short, choppy layers — was a far cry from her signature blunt cut and middle part.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
In addition, chip system designs, known as architectures, link many chips with fast, common networking to let large models run without lagging or choppy output.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for choppy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for choppy
Adjective
-
During Galliano’s tenure, Maison Margiela shows were sporadic.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
However, sporadic light supplementation means that adjusting fertilizer use is sensible if plant growth slows.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For much of 2025, their doldrums felt much worse than the typical rough patch that parties endure after bad election defeats.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Unfortunately, peel-and-stick tiles will not hold up well on rough walls and floors or uneven surfaces.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Here's a breakdown of the somewhat confusing chain of events from this week.—
Hannah Hudnall,
Louisville Courier Journal,
12 Feb. 2026
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What’s confusing is that Kevan is so confused to be stood up.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Scam centers proliferating as criminal gangs flout laws In Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, a failure to consistently enforce laws against human trafficking, labor abuses and criminal activities have allowed cyber-scam centers to flourish despite occasional crackdowns, the report noted.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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While occasional scooting can happen, recurring episodes usually signal an underlying issue with anal glands.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Despite substantial investment, outcomes remain uneven, and access to alternatives is often constrained by income.—
Carol Platt Liebau,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Bets on economic resilience have recently fueled gains in companies that tend to benefit from improving growth prospects, the latest data underscored the uneven labor market characterized by limited numbers of overall dismissals and lackluster hiring.—
Rita Nazareth,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
-
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 15 Feb. 2026.
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