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
This was an ugly performance all around and won’t get the glow-up from a heart-stopping, last-second victory.
—
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Our Great National Parks spreads its wings over five gorgeous episodes, taking the viewer through some of the world’s most heart-stopping sights.
—Tomris Laffly, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
Evening Light) whose heart-stopping garden presence cannot be overstated.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
The series explores the high-pressure experiences of first responders — including police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers — who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking, and heart-stopping situations.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heart-stopping
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Our Great National Parks spreads its wings over five gorgeous episodes, taking the viewer through some of the world’s most heart-stopping sights.
—Tomris Laffly, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
Evening Light) whose heart-stopping garden presence cannot be overstated.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
The series explores the high-pressure experiences of first responders — including police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers — who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking, and heart-stopping situations.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heart-stopping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heart-stopping
Adjective
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Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate reacted to that breathtaking strike by putting their hands on their head in disbelief.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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With thousands of romantic restaurants, breathtaking views, and honeymoon-ready hotels, the Eternal City tops a new global list.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The park offers one of the most exciting wildlife experiences in Southern Africa, with a million acres of biodiverse savannas, wetlands, and montane rainforests, and a range of animals that includes buffalo herds, lion prides, and an array of birds.—
Lisa Grainger,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Feb. 2026
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That changed two years ago, when the ISU lifted its ban in a bid to make the sport more exciting and popular among younger fans.—
Fernanda Figueroa,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Well, that was not exactly a thrilling game.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
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The celebrity cameos came moments after one of Bad Bunny's most thrilling stunts.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Later during the keynote, Hounsou shared an interesting nugget about the film’s budget when asked by an audience member about the difficulty of getting period films about the African diaspora off the ground in Hollywood.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
15 Feb. 2026
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Bubic had an interesting offseason.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heart-stopping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heart-stopping. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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