Meanings
plural showstoppers · alternative show-stopper · alternative show stopper
- A performance or segment of a theatrical production that induces a positive audience reaction strong enough to pause the production.
- Any impediment that prevents all further progress.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA software bug that must be fixed before any further development is possible.
More synonyms by meaning
nounan act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down
nounsomething that is strikingly attractive or has great popular appeal
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Dutch succesnummer
- succesnummer(in theatrical production)
Finnish menestysesitys, välitön este
- menestysesitys(in theatrical production)
- välitön esteimpediment to progress
French clap de fin
- clap de finimpediment to progress
German Showstopper, KO-Kriterium
- Showstopper(in theatrical production)
- KO-Kriteriumimpediment to progress
- K.O.-Kriteriumimpediment to progress
- Ausschlusskriteriumimpediment to progress
- Showstopperimpediment to progress
Italian strappa applausi, gran numero
- strappa applausi(in theatrical production)
- gran numero(in theatrical production)
- uno schianto(in theatrical production)
- numero eccezionale(in theatrical production)
- esibizione fantastica(in theatrical production)
- applausi a scena aperta(in theatrical production)
- intoppoimpediment to progress
- ostacoloimpediment to progress
- fallaimpediment to progress
- impedimentoimpediment to progress
Russian шоу-сто́ппер, препя́тствие
- шоу-сто́ппер (šou-stópper)(in theatrical production)
- препя́тствие (prepjátstvije)impediment to progress
- поме́ха (poméxa)impediment to progress
Ukrainian зава́да, перешко́да
- зава́да (zaváda)impediment to progress
- перешко́да (pereškóda)impediment to progress
- перепо́на (perepóna)impediment to progress
Cite this entry
showstopper. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/showstopper
“showstopper.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/showstopper. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “showstopper,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/showstopper.
Source: showstopper on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.