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
Relevance
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
Above a muddled Southland college basketball landscape, a heartwarming, heart-stopping story has arisen.
—
Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
And in the third period of the USA’s heart-stopping 2-1 overtime win over the Canadians in Sunday’s gold medal game, the UMass Lowell product turned to another Hockey East product, Bruins defenseman and former Boston University Terrier Charlie McAvoy, for some game-saving assistance.
—Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
The wooden coaster has carried more than 27 million riders over its time and brings heart-stopping views of the Ozarks, while also being one of the longest-running wooden coasters in the nation.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 21 Feb. 2026
From here, hiking trails trace ancient routes used by shepherds and traders, edging along precipices with heart-stopping views into the void below.
—Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heart-stopping
Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
And in the third period of the USA’s heart-stopping 2-1 overtime win over the Canadians in Sunday’s gold medal game, the UMass Lowell product turned to another Hockey East product, Bruins defenseman and former Boston University Terrier Charlie McAvoy, for some game-saving assistance.
—Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
The wooden coaster has carried more than 27 million riders over its time and brings heart-stopping views of the Ozarks, while also being one of the longest-running wooden coasters in the nation.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 21 Feb. 2026
From here, hiking trails trace ancient routes used by shepherds and traders, edging along precipices with heart-stopping views into the void below.
—Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heart-stopping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heart-stopping
Adjective
-
Some draw you for history held in their walls, some for breathtaking views, others for design, discretion, or their quiet gravitas.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
-
But for the first time in modern automotive history, the industry’s center of gravity appears to be China-bound at breathtaking speed.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The series itself follows the famed adventurer as he's joined by celebrities for exciting journeys in the wilderness.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Watch the official livestream replay now and immerse yourself in one of the most exciting student fashion events in the world.—
Kayla Rivera,
AJC.com,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Director Jon Favreau is (again) a safe pair of hands that deliver a solid, thrilling and engaging romp.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
-
Crawford, who played 20 years in the NBA, is now a color commentator for NBC Sports and has been calling playoff games with Tirico and Miller, including the thrilling second-round matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
An interesting wine list includes English sparkling wines like Hundred Hills, and there are 5,000 more bottles in the cellar.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
The psychologist found these analogies interesting.—
Weike Wang,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heart-stopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heart-stopping. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
