showstopper

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "showstopper" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is so impressive or exceptional that it stops everything else, often in a positive context. An example: "The lead singer's performance was a showstopper, captivating the entire audience." Alternative expressions include "game changer" and "attention grabber."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts & Entertainment

Encyclopedias

Food

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The dish is something of a showstopper to boot.

The New York Times - Food

But, he adds, given the Shkval's power, "Why wouldn't you choose everything you had?"In this section A shot from the dark Another shabby Warsaw Pact ReprintsThe tracking of Shkval exports is but one part of a broad and increasing effort by the West to track a class of "showstopper" weapons that are both rare and easy to hide.

The Economist

But like the winter that doomsayers predicted would wreck the campaign in Afghanistan, the Iraqi summer is not quite the showstopper it is reputed to be.

The Economist

But you'll have to wait until late March for the real showstopper: Tallinn Music Week.

The Economist

There's a small kitchen set in the erstwhile altar, but the real showstopper is the retractable roof, which makes sleeping under the twinkling stars a possibility.

Independent

From Kendrick Lamar's political showstopper to Justin Bieber's banging rendition of "Where Are U Now", there were some top-notch performances.

Independent

Shingle all the way Shingle all the way Geological showstopper the Jurassic Coast (jurassiccoast.org) stretches 95 miles from Exmouth in Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset, and was the UK's first Unesco World Heritage Site.

Independent

"This may be a showstopper for Heathrow expansion," said Gatwick's chief executive Stewart Wingate.

Independent

Victoria's Blackbird Pie cake from the first week of series three won her the star baker accolade and remains one of the more memorable creations, while John's gingerbread Roman Colosseum and final showstopper Heaven and Hell cake earned him the title.

Independent

For the showstopper round, the contestants will be tasked with reinventing the black forest gateau.

Independent

Apparently she's already admitted that her family are her "harshest critics" and she likes to "bake a good showstopper" to keep them happy.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical documentation, use "showstopper" sparingly; more precise terms like "critical bug" are often preferred unless the context is semi-formal.

Common error

Avoid using "showstopper" in a way that creates ambiguity between success and failure. For example, saying "the new policy was a showstopper" could mean it was either brilliantly received or that it completely halted operations. Pair it with adjectives like "brilliant" or verbs like "encountered" to clarify intent.

Linguistic Context

Primarily functioning as a noun, "showstopper" acts as a descriptor for an entity that commands total attention or necessitates a complete halt. Ludwig examples demonstrate its role as a predicate nominative (e.g., "the dish is a showstopper") or a specific classification for a class of items (e.g., "showstopper weapons").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Arts & Entertainment

15%

Food & Dining

5%

Less common in

Science & Technology

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "showstopper" is a versatile and highly expressive noun that carries two nearly opposite meanings depending on the domain. In the arts, food, and fashion, it is a high compliment denoting a "masterpiece" so impressive it stops the show. In technology and project management, it identifies a "critical bug" or obstacle that prevents progress. Ludwig data confirms its prevalence in prestigious media outlets, where it is used to add flavor and emphasis to reporting. Ludwig AI notes that the term is grammatically sound and universally accepted, provided that the surrounding context clearly distinguishes between its celebratory and inhibitory definitions. Writers should leverage this word to signal extreme impact, making it an essential tool for both creative and technical vocabularies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pièce de résistance

emphasizes the most remarkable feature of a creative work or meal

game changer

shifts the fundamental nature of a situation rather than just being a highlight

tour de force

implies a feat of great strength or skill in a performance

deal breaker

specifically refers to a condition that stops a negotiation or arrangement

blocker

common in technical agile environments to describe a task that prevents progress

critical defect

the formal technical equivalent for a software bug that halts development

crowd pleaser

focuses specifically on audience approval rather than the impact on the production's flow

head-turner

focuses on the visual impact or attention-grabbing nature of an object

stumbling block

suggests a hurdle that is difficult but not necessarily fatal to progress

climax

refers to the structural peak of a story or performance rather than the reaction it causes

FAQs

How to use "showstopper" in a sentence?

You can use it as a noun to describe a highlight: "The dessert was the real showstopper of the evening." Or as a technical issue: "We found a showstopper bug that delayed the release."

What can I say instead of "showstopper"?

If you mean something positive, you could use "masterpiece" or "pièce de résistance". If you mean something negative, try "blocker" or "critical bug".

What's the difference between "showstopper" and "deal breaker"?

A "deal breaker" is specifically a condition that causes a negotiation to fail, whereas a "showstopper" (in a negative sense) is any impediment that halts a process or development.

Is "showstopper" always a positive term?

No, while it originated in theater as a compliment for a "tour de force", in modern business and tech it often refers to a fatal flaw that prevents a project from moving forward.