choppy

[chop-ee]

adjective

choppier, choppiest 

1. (of the sea, a lake, etc.) forming short, irregular, broken waves.

2. (of the wind) shifting or changing suddenly or irregularly; variable.

3. uneven in style or quality or characterized by poorly related parts.

   The book was a choppy first novel.

choppy

/ ˈtʃɒpɪ /

adjective

1. (of the sea, weather, etc) fairly rough

Other Word Forms

• choppily adverb
• choppiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of choppy¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; chop ² + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Rising uncertainty about U.S. interest rates and fears of a potential AI bubble fueled demand for Treasurys, sending yields lower in a choppy week.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lee said that the next two weeks could be choppy, before giving way to a rebound.

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U.S. natural gas futures settled lower in a choppy session with the market moving up and down on daily shifts in the weather outlook.

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Target’s incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke has his work cut out for him amid choppy consumer demand trends as he attempts to turn the struggling retailer around.

Read more on Barron's

Target’s incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke has his work cut out for him amid choppy consumer demand trends as he attempts to turn the struggling retailer around.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• rough 
• uneven