Choppily

Choppily describes something done or moving in a jerky, uneven, or fragmented manner. It often refers to the uneven flow of speech, writing, or physical motion, characterized by sudden starts and stops, or an abrupt, disconnected style. This can apply to the texture of a surface, the rhythm of music, or the fluctuating nature of an experience. It suggests a lack of smoothness, continuity, or grace, highlighting a disjointed or turbulent quality. Think of it as experiencing something in a series of small, disconnected bursts rather than a continuous stream.

Choppily meaning with examples

• The radio transmission came through choppily, fading in and out, making it difficult to understand the urgent message. Static interference frequently distorted the signal, leaving a fractured message. We kept repeating the requests, and only some responses came through, making communication difficult.
• The old engine sputtered choppily to life, its pistons clanking with an uneven rhythm. The vehicle lurched forward, and the engine's sounds came in short bursts, reminiscent of the mechanics of a malfunctioning motor, giving a sense of fragility to the machine.
• He edited his manuscript choppily, adding and deleting sentences in a fragmented manner, making the overall flow of the narrative disjointed and hard to follow for the reader. The story lacked the smooth transitions and a sense of narrative continuity which a good editor needs to fix.
• The waves crashed choppily against the shore, whipped by the relentless wind and forming a chaotic and disturbed surface. The churning waters created an unpleasant experience, suggesting a rough and unpredictable sea, with foam and spray everywhere.
• She danced choppily, her movements lacking fluidity and grace. Her body was unable to sustain her movements in a synchronized and continuous fashion. Instead, she flailed in short, jerky motions as if disconnected from her own rhythm, resulting in a clumsy performance.