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showstopper

noun
show¡​stop¡​per | \ ˈshō-ˌstä-pər How to pronounce showstopper (audio) \

Definition of showstopper

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
Other Words from showstopper Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about showstopper

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Other Words from showstopper

showstopping \ ˈshō-​ˌstä-​piŋ How to pronounce showstopping (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for showstopper

Synonyms

babe [slang], cutie (or cutey), dish, doll, dreamboat [slang], fox, glamour-puss, hottie, knockout, looker, ten

Antonyms

dog

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Examples of showstopper in a Sentence

at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper

Recent Examples on the Web

 The Amber Museum here, though, is the real showstopper. — Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian, "Follow the Ancient Amber Road," 29 Aug. 2019 But Amfitheatrof admits that the sapphire and diamond necklace is the showstopper. — Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, "Louis Vuitton's New High Jewelry Collection Was Inspired by Medieval Heroines," 27 Aug. 2019 Jon: The sink was definitely a showstopper for that house. — R. Daniel Foster, Los Angeles Times, "HGTV’s ‘Going for Sold’ gives Houston flippers their moon shot," 22 Aug. 2019 Twitter Facebook − + Candid One Dave • a day ago That's a different issue, separate enough that its mitigation doesn't need to be a showstopper. — Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, "Video: How Google may take San Jose buildings to new heights," 21 July 2019 But they’re showstoppers, sandblasted with loving inscriptions and positive intentions. — Los Angeles Times, "The best reusable water bottles, for when you’re ready to ditch your plastic habit," 19 July 2019 While the huge glass chandelier in the entry is obviously the showstopper, even the subtle pendant lights in the kitchen and sleek gold fixtures in the guest bedroom add a pop. — Nikhita Mahtani, House Beautiful, "You've Got to See How This Glamorous 10,000-Square-Foot Home Came Together," 26 Apr. 2019 To see how an artist elevated the mundane to the monumental was a showstopper and a head scratcher. — Richard Sandomir, BostonGlobe.com, "Robert Therrien, sculptor, 71; made the mundane monumental," 26 June 2019 The bounce has been the showstopper for these scenarios. — Quanta Magazine, "How the Universe Got Its Bounce Back," 31 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'showstopper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of showstopper

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for showstopper

showstopper

noun
How to pronounce showstopper (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of showstopper

: an act, song, or performer that receives so much applause that the performance is interrupted

See the full definition for showstopper in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on showstopper

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with showstopper

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for showstopper

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