showstopper

noun

show·​stop·​per ˈshō-ˌstä-pər 

1

: an act, song, or performer that wins applause so prolonged as to interrupt a performance

2

: something or someone exceptionally arresting or attractive

the gold crown was the showstopper of the exhibition

3

: one that stops or could stop the progress, operation, or functioning of something

showstopping

ˈshō-ˌstä-piŋ 

adjective

Synonyms of showstopper

• doll
• looker
• lovely
• beauty
• eyeful
• babe
• dish
• ten
• dreamboat

Examples of showstopper in a Sentence

at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper

Recent Examples on the Web

Their large, vibrant leaves create a focal point that can certainly hold court on its own but, when planted with the right companions, can somehow become even more of a showstopper. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026

Manor House guests are immersed in an expansive Wes Anderson-meets-The Crown effect in any room, though the two-storey, 953 sq ft Dynasty Suite is a true showstopper. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

The Baroque showstoppers of Noto and Modica, along with Ortigia, are feasible day trips. —Erica Firpo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026

The moment, captured in footage shared on Reddit, was a showstopper in an evening already packed with them. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for showstopper

• eavesdropper
• grasshopper
• improper
• leafhopper
• sharecropper
• chopper
• copper
• cropper
• dropper
• pauper
• popper
• proper