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

• doll
• looker
• lovely
• beauty
• eyeful
• babe [slang]
• dish
• ten
• dreamboat [slang]

Examples of showstopper in a Sentence

at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper

Recent Examples on the Web

The interior also draws influence from the outdoors with its cool, muted color palette, and for a showstopper, the sixth-floor Penthouse Suite includes a fireplace, spa-style bathroom and a private terrace for outdoor viewing. —Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

A feast for the eyes Among the tech expected to appear, China’s latest cruise missile systems will likely to be one of the showstoppers. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2025

The showstopper here is the flaming chorizo, which adds a touch of drama to dinner. —Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025

The real showstopper, though, is the Black Hawk Statue, a 50-foot concrete monolith created by Lorado Taft in 1911. —Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025

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