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

This slab pie is your summer showstopper, with cheesy pastry, a generous slick of Dijon mayonnaise, and fat slices of heirloom tomatoes peeking out of a lattice top. — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 18 July 2026

But the real showstoppers are the plants that grow inside and drape over the planters. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2026

The Fishes Royale platter is a showstopper with native lobster, langoustines, toro and wild red prawns, plus optional additions of Oscietra caviar. — Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Opened in 1901, the ornate behemoth in Center City, built in the style of the Second Empire, remains a showstopper today. — Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 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