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

While major cryptocurrencies have recouped some losses from the selloff, the elevated volatility suggests a choppy road ahead.

Read more on MarketWatch

“The latest rift between the U.S. and China is likely to cause greater market volatility, and investors must brace for a choppy ride,” the managing director of Investment Strategy adds.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Leguizamo portrays the patriarch of an upwardly mobile Latin-American family who finds himself in choppy waters, both financially and emotionally.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“That said, this feels more like a sugar rush than a structural turnaround. The underlying EV market remains choppy.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There had been no crossings for a week before then due to choppy seas.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• rough 
• uneven