heart-stopping

adjective

heart-stop·​ping ˈhärt-ˌstä-piŋ How to pronounce heart-stopping (audio)
: extremely shocking or exciting
a heart-stopping adventure
heart-stopping views
heart-stoppingly adverb
a heart-stoppingly suspenseful film
a heart-stoppingly beautiful view

Examples of heart-stopping in a Sentence

the movie's climax is a heart-stopping chase through the streets of San Francisco
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The series explores the high-pressure experiences of first responders — including police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers — who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking, and heart-stopping situations. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025 Losing sight of a dog during a walk can be a heart-stopping experience for any pet owner. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 On the silver screen, Chris Pine has played heart-stopping action heroes. Todd Spangler, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025 The summit brings heart-stopping views of glacial valleys, sky-high waterfalls plunging through the rocky cliffs, and cascades of water far below. Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heart-stopping

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heart-stopping was in 1888

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heart-stopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heart-stopping. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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