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
Synonyms of showstopper
Examples of showstopper in a Sentence
at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper
Recent Examples on the Web
World-class chefs and their delicious creations weren’t the only showstoppers on display at this year’s Culinary Masters in Nashville.
—
Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2025
The signature is like the baker’s calling card, an offering that conveys their preferred flavor profiles and style, while the showstopper is more ambitious, testing what the contestants can deliver when they’re pushed to their limits.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
The Charles Simonyi Space Gallery is located within Seattle's Museum of Flight, and the showstopper here is the NASA Full Fuselage Trainer—a full-size trainer mockup once used to prepare every shuttle astronaut for the rigors of space travel.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
Make way for Leo, the lion of the zodiac, and the showstoppers who call this fire sign their own.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for showstopper
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Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2025
The signature is like the baker’s calling card, an offering that conveys their preferred flavor profiles and style, while the showstopper is more ambitious, testing what the contestants can deliver when they’re pushed to their limits.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
The Charles Simonyi Space Gallery is located within Seattle's Museum of Flight, and the showstopper here is the NASA Full Fuselage Trainer—a full-size trainer mockup once used to prepare every shuttle astronaut for the rigors of space travel.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
Make way for Leo, the lion of the zodiac, and the showstoppers who call this fire sign their own.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for showstopper
Cite this Entry
“Showstopper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showstopper. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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