heart-stopping

adjective

heart-stop·​ping ˈhärt-ˌstä-piŋ 

: extremely shocking or exciting

a heart-stopping adventure

heart-stopping views

heart-stoppingly adverb

a heart-stoppingly suspenseful film

a heart-stoppingly beautiful view

Synonyms

• breathtaking
• charged
• electric
• electrifying
• exciting
• exhilarating
• exhilarative
• galvanic
• galvanizing
• hair-raising
• inspiring
• intoxicating
• kicky
• mind-bending
• mind-blowing
• mind-boggling
• rip-roaring
• rousing
• stimulating
• stirring
• thrilling

Examples of heart-stopping in a Sentence

the movie's climax is a heart-stopping chase through the streets of San Francisco

Recent Examples on the Web

Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Brittany Mahomes recalled a heart-stopping moment when her 23-month-old, Bronze, experienced a severe allergic reaction that landed him in the emergency room. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Our Los Gatos neighborhood had a heart-stopping reminder recently when a brushfire erupted in a heavily wooded hillside. —Debby Rice, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024

Scroll social media! — interrupted by sudden, heart-stopping feats of athleticism and pure luck. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 31 July 2024

In a heart-stopping overtime thriller, Ralston Valley edged Columbine 35-34, handing the Rebels their first loss in nearly two years and ending their dominant winning streak that included a Class 5A state title last season. —David Mullen, The Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above