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
Mount Carmel is back home after representing Illinois well in a heart-stopping 43-42 win over Moeller in Ohio.
—
Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 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
Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 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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This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
5 Oct. 2025
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Glen Manor Vineyards and Chester Gap Cellars both offer open-air tasting patios that showcase breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Their stories capture the creativity, resilience, and ambition that are making Arizona one of the most exciting places for innovation and entrepreneurship in 2025.—
Wyles Daniel,
AZCentral.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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Stories can be prepared, but since most decisions ultimately fall to the roll of the dice, there’s an exciting spontaneity for the millions of people watching at home.—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Hard sparring is a thrilling confrontation, not with your opponent so much as with yourself.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
2 Oct. 2025
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Getting to see that process from this completely different vantage point was pretty thrilling.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
2 Oct. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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