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

showstopping

ˈshō-ˌstä-piŋ 

adjective

Synonyms

• babe [slang]
• cutie
• cutey
• dish
• doll
• dreamboat [slang]
• fox
• glamour-puss
• hottie
• knockout
• looker
• ten

Examples of showstopper in a Sentence

at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper

Recent Examples on the Web

Lauryn Hill Photo: Getty Images Her choice of bag, meanwhile, was a total showstopper. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 6 May 2025

After the showstopper of a performance that Divighn gave in the Knockouts, he should be ushered not just back into the competition but straight on through to the finale. —Charlie Mason, TVLine, 6 May 2025

And finally, Earth's atmosphere is a showstopper by itself. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025

Subaru debuted two showstoppers with one new EV Who can ignore Subaru’s mainstay in the U.S.—the chunky Outback? —Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for showstopper

• eavesdropper
• grasshopper
• improper
• leafhopper
• sharecropper
• chopper
• copper
• cropper
• dropper
• pauper
• popper
• proper