showstopper

noun

show·​stop·​per ˈshō-ˌstä-pər How to pronounce showstopper (audio)
Synonyms of showstoppernext
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
showstopping adjective

Examples of showstopper in a Sentence

at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Kelli Barclay is Goodspeed’s go-to person for spectacular old-school tap dance showstoppers. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026 But the showstopper moment of the trip came at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica. Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 13 June 2026 Show off gorgeous summer tomatoes with Pasta Pomodoro a la Plancha, a vegetarian showstopper that picks up serious depth over the flames without adding hours to the cook time. Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 June 2026 Those three are far from alone in admitting that not all of their looks were showstoppers. Tanisha Bhat, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for showstopper

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of showstopper was in 1916

Cite this Entry

“Showstopper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showstopper. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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