as in breathtaking
causing great emotional or mental stimulation
the movie's climax is a heart-stopping chase through the streets of San Francisco
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Recent Examples of heart-stopping
After two months of watching emperor penguin chicks in Antarctica, Bertie Gregory's drone captured a heart-stopping moment.
—
Doc Louallen, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2025
At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
After nearly a year of planning, a group of four foxes made a heart-stopping journey from Russia to Santa Ysabel in late June, avoiding war, diverted flights and even missiles along the way.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Festivalgoers at a major music event found themselves in a heart-stopping situation after a popular amusement ride suddenly shut down, leaving several people stranded upside down in the air.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heart-stopping
Doc Louallen, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2025
At one point, MacLachlan orchestrates a heart-stopping moment of reckoning for Bill and Tammy, written with a sudden, cathartic directness—a break in their usual language of deferential hesitations—which the actors underplay to perfection.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
After nearly a year of planning, a group of four foxes made a heart-stopping journey from Russia to Santa Ysabel in late June, avoiding war, diverted flights and even missiles along the way.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Festivalgoers at a major music event found themselves in a heart-stopping situation after a popular amusement ride suddenly shut down, leaving several people stranded upside down in the air.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heart-stopping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heart-stopping
Adjective
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Against this backdrop of global excellence, the Saudi Red Sea is notable for its unique blend of luxury, adventure, and authenticity along its breathtaking 1,000-plus-mile (1,800-kilometer) Red Sea coastline.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
26 Sep. 2025
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Their lot perched above the Pacific, with a view that stretches to Catalina Island, is too breathtaking to give up.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This Thursday’s episode of The Run-Through covers a lot of exciting ground.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Milk is a classic cookie counterpart, but Addison also recommends a side of Greek yogurt for something a little more exciting (and surprising).—
Audrey Bruno,
SELF,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But the Drama is also equally thrilling and edifying, much like the experience of witnessing Cardi’s rise and watching her maneuver celebrity, heartbreak and beef at the highest level.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
25 Sep. 2025
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Sledding down paths carved through a moonlit forest is a thrilling experience, and the adrenaline will work off any rich meal.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Add in the fact that Woolen is only 26 years old and things get even more interesting.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Safdie takes a story of passion and fury, of rage and torment, and reduces it to the arm’s-length mode of the interesting.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heart-stopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heart-stopping. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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