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Glite Dictionary
🔝 Strong at top ⚖️ Unbalanced top
toppy

toppy

9.2
Likely to fall because the top is heavy or unbalanced
  • adjective
  • /ˈtɑpi/
translation icon : inestable
  • The stack of books was very toppy, threatening to fall over at any moment.

Examples

  • Be careful with that vase; it's quite toppy and could easily tip if nudged.

  • So it's quite toppy, isn't it?

  • Yeah, because it's quite top heavy, it does need to kind of be supported a bit more.

  • - A little table toppy?

    Rad (1986)

  • He placed the drinks on a toppy cart that wobbled with the slightest movement.

Synonyms

shaky
vstoppy
53 3.3

Not firm or safe and likely to fail

is about tipping because weight sits high rather than general insecurity
tippy
vstoppy
8 7.5

Unsteady and likely to fall over easily

is about falling because weight is high rather than general instability
top-heavy
vstoppy
3 6.1

With too much weight at the top, it may fall or feel unsteady

is used mainly for literal falling due to heavy or unbalanced upper part
teetery
vstoppy
8.2

Unsteady and likely to fall or tip over

is caused specifically by weight high up rather than general instability
toty
vstoppy
  • UK
9.9

Shaky and likely to fall over when you touch it

is specifically caused by heavy upper weight rather than general unsteadiness

Antonyms

stable
473 2.3

Not likely to change and stays steady over time

balanced
101 1.0

Having different parts in the right amounts so the whole is fair and steady

How Unstable

top-heavy
3 6.1
toppy
9.2
wobbly
36 3.6
unsteady
16 3.3
stable
473 2.3

Surface Forms

toppy positive
toppier comparative
toppest superlative

Morphology

toppy = top (transparent) = top + y

Direct adjectival formation from 'top' meaning 'having a notable top', yielding the predictable meaning 'likely to tip because the top is heavy'.

Etymology

The word toppy comes from top meaning 'highest part' and the ending -y meaning 'full of'. So toppy can mean 'heavy at the top' and likely to tip over, like a pile that is top-heavy or an object that might topple if the top is too heavy.