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heart-stopping

adjective

ˈhärt-ˌstä-piŋ How to pronounce heart-stopping (audio)
Definition of heart-stoppingnext
as in breathtaking
causing great emotional or mental stimulation the movie's climax is a heart-stopping chase through the streets of San Francisco

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of heart-stopping After more than a month of heart-stopping action, the FIFA men’s World Cup is finally approaching the finish line. — Bob Harkins, New York Times, 16 July 2026 The drama continued Saturday for Messi and Argentina, whose players collapsed to the turf at the end of another heart-stopping match. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026 Argentina fans on the streets for a heart-stopping match against Cape Verde. — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026 The first two movies established themselves as genre classics, combining heart-stopping action with futuristic sci-fi that explored the threat of AI bringing about an apocalypse. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for heart-stopping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heart-stopping
  1. breathtaking
  2. exciting
  3. thrilling
  4. interesting
Adjective
  • This town of about 1,200 residents comes alive in autumn with quirky traditions, breathtaking foliage, and family-friendly activities that showcase the best of the season.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026
  • With breathtaking speed, a little over a month after the Good Earth casting rejection, Wong left Hollywood to fulfill her lifelong dream of visiting China.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of breathtaking
Adjective
  • Venus in your expansive 9th house connects awkwardly with Uranus in your domestic zone, making travel, learning, or a fresh interest feel exciting and slightly disruptive.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Pisces February 19 – March 20 A goal may become more exciting once other people are involved.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of exciting
Adjective
  • The final 100 pages are a thrilling, heart-stopping adventure in the New Mexico desert, picking up the pace with unexpected urgency and narrative anxiety.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Now, more than fifty years later, his son David Greaves shares the intimate footage of this thrilling conversation.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of thrilling
Adjective
  • Venus in your career zone forms an awkward connection to Uranus in your playful 5th house, stirring tension between what looks polished and what actually feels interesting.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • This year’s showcase is especially interesting as Queer Lisboa is hitting 30 at the same time BFI Flare in London turns 40 and San Francisco’s Frameline turns 50, David notes.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of interesting

Browse Nearby Words

heartsore
heart-stopping
heartstrings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heart-stopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heart-stopping. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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