CHOPPY Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

choppy

adjective

ˈchä-pē

Definition of choppy

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

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

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 Ohtani drove in the Dodgers' only run with a triple in the third inning, sending a choppy ground ball bouncing over first baseman Gary Sánchez into the right-field corner, but Murphy refused to call it a mistake by Misiorowski. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026 Instead of a choppy, headbanger shag, try a lighter, cozier version. — Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026 Her undone bob features slightly choppy ends and waves from the root that fall effortlessly halfway down. — Omenaa Boakye, InStyle, 13 Aug. 2026 However, those negotiations remain quite choppy; plus, plenty of inflationary risks are in the pike as higher oil and fertilizer prices work their way through the economy in the coming months. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for choppy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for choppy

Adjective

Bahrain and Kuwait, which have continued to face sporadic Iranian attacks, will have the lowest staffing of the Gulf embassies, with three-quarters of Foreign Service members returning.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Attacks on Kenscoff have escalated The first major attack on Kenscoff occurred in January 2025, and since then, there have been sporadic attacks in the mountains surrounding the city center.

— Pierre-Richard Luxama, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of sporadic

Adjective

Other downsides to sulfates include leaving hair feeling dry, brittle, and rough, which Trisler says can be even more damaging if your hair is already compromised.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
Hsu’s argument for why the near-monochrome restaurant doesn’t go flat is that the palette itself runs on tension, with the statement-making veined marble behind the point-of-sale area set against rough plaster walls.

— Alexis Benveniste, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of rough

Adjective

Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a hodgepodge of financial advice and confusing diagrams held together by anecdotes from Kiyosaki’s childhood.

— Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
Disability rights advocates fear the changes to special education oversight weaken the federal safety net for autistic students and others with disabilities, making these systems more confusing when families need help enforcing students’ rights.

— Claire Sibonney, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of confusing

Adjective

When Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, her family spent months in a bomb shelter, risking only occasional visits back to their apartment.

— Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
The Sox entered Tuesday ranked last in the majors with 561 innings pitched by starters — a number impacted in part by their occasional use of an opener.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of occasional

Adjective

That is an unusually light amount of in-game preparation for a second-year quarterback learning a new offense, especially since Dart and the offense have had an uneven summer at best.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026
Together, these findings pointed to uneven conditions beneath the road.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of uneven

Adjective

The lawsuit says the decision was unlawful, unsupported by facts and inconsistent with the military’s past praise of Claude.

— Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
As a brief respite, the silly friend in your group chat, who keeps violently inconsistent hours, has shared something that will probably not break your heart, which seems as worthy an offering as any.

— Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of inconsistent

Adjective

None of this means intermittent fasting is a cure for ongoing pain and anxiety, of course.

— Mike McRae August 25, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
Television released one more album in the Nineties and played intermittent reunions over the following decades, but officially dissolved in 2023 following the death of frontman Tom Verlaine.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of intermittent

Browse Nearby Words

chopping (down)

choppy

chops

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Choppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/choppy. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of choppy

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes