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
Examples of showstopper in a Sentence
at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper
Recent Examples on the Web
The parlor level is a showstopper, featuring oak herringbone floors, a gorgeous black marble fireplace, and a chic chef’s kitchen with top-of-the-line Miele, Wolf, and Sub-Zero appliances.
—
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2025
The first showstopper is a vitrine’s worth of graphic designs that Tatlin created in Kyiv, which are making their museum début.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Jacque Audiard’s neo-noir crime thriller comic telenovela showstopper takes you on the strange journeys of an ambitious lawyer (Zoe Saldaña), a cartel kingpin (Karla Sofia Gascón) who undergoes gender affirmation surgery, and a mom (Selena Gomez) with bad habits and worse taste in men.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
There was far less of Bollywood at the gala than usual — although taking center stage was Kareena Kapoor Khan, who represented Lakme for years and also served as the grand finale showstopper for many shows during past fashion weeks.
—Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for showstopper
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Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2025
The first showstopper is a vitrine’s worth of graphic designs that Tatlin created in Kyiv, which are making their museum début.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Jacque Audiard’s neo-noir crime thriller comic telenovela showstopper takes you on the strange journeys of an ambitious lawyer (Zoe Saldaña), a cartel kingpin (Karla Sofia Gascón) who undergoes gender affirmation surgery, and a mom (Selena Gomez) with bad habits and worse taste in men.
—Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
There was far less of Bollywood at the gala than usual — although taking center stage was Kareena Kapoor Khan, who represented Lakme for years and also served as the grand finale showstopper for many shows during past fashion weeks.
—Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for showstopper
Cite this Entry
“Showstopper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showstopper. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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