as in sensational
arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction
most of the movie's budget must have gone for its gee-whiz special effects
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Recent Examples of gee-whiz
Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
While the terrace is the most obvious gee-whiz feature, the 100-footer has multiple standout elements, starting with the salon.
—Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025
The Institute never achieves either emotional potency or any sense of gee-whiz spectacle.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
Perseverance's aurora observations, which were described in a study published Wednesday (May 14) in the journal Science Advances, have more than just gee-whiz appeal.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 15 May 2025
Are the gee-whiz tech innovations still relevant like the electric light bulb or the elevator were?
—Matt Shaw, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
California once was the state where a visionary might start up a gee-whiz concept in a garage.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Missoula, Montana, where he was born, bequeathed him a folksy Eagle Scout congeniality, all nasal delivery and gee-whiz enthusiasm.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2025
While invisibility cloaks are a gee-whiz application, metamaterials now offer real-world commercial applications such as new antenna technologies for mobile phones.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Dec. 2018
Eric Todisco, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2023
Adjective
Even a half-hour after the Giants snapped out of their funk with a satisfying victory, and Susac had a moment to reflect on the wildly successful start to his big league career, there wasn’t a hint of gee-whiz wonder in his postgame comments.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
While the terrace is the most obvious gee-whiz feature, the 100-footer has multiple standout elements, starting with the salon.
—Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2025
The Institute never achieves either emotional potency or any sense of gee-whiz spectacle.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
Perseverance's aurora observations, which were described in a study published Wednesday (May 14) in the journal Science Advances, have more than just gee-whiz appeal.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 15 May 2025
Are the gee-whiz tech innovations still relevant like the electric light bulb or the elevator were?
—Matt Shaw, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
California once was the state where a visionary might start up a gee-whiz concept in a garage.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Missoula, Montana, where he was born, bequeathed him a folksy Eagle Scout congeniality, all nasal delivery and gee-whiz enthusiasm.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2025
While invisibility cloaks are a gee-whiz application, metamaterials now offer real-world commercial applications such as new antenna technologies for mobile phones.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Dec. 2018
Interjection
Wow, gee whiz, golly wolly!
—Eric Todisco, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gee-whiz
Adjective
-
At a time when most papers merely reported events, his papers created them, sending reporters out to perform daring rescues, solve sensational murders, and even meddle in geopolitics.—
Ramtin Arablouei,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Babe Ruth, 40, made a sensational National League debut in Boston.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, the most colorful man in the room might have been Jackson himself, who had on a jacket in a rich currant shade.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Film at Lincoln Center, which hosts the fundraising event, annually assembles a colorful cast of past collaborators, maybe future ones, and admirers for this event, like last year pairing Dua Lipa and John Waters with Pedro Almodóvar.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
There was more screaming and yelling for people who wanted to get a ventilator available in their home.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2021
Interjection
-
And when the Knicks did win, well, the Celtics didn’t have Brown.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
And fashion, well, a lot of those styles and trends are coming back!—
Sari Hitchins,
Parents,
11 Apr. 2026
Interjection
-
Neon Carnival Neon Carnival hits a major milestone this year, celebrating 15 years as one of the festival weekend's most exclusive, invite-only parties known for attracting A-list stars (hey Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce!—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
And hey, complaining apparently works!—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
8 Apr. 2026
Interjection
-
Oh gee, is that supposed to be me in the video with the goatee?—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
As the spigot closed, inflation spiked (gee, maybe there’s a connection?) and the economy slowed, the state budget went from a whopping surplus to stubborn deficits.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
6 Aug. 2025
Interjection
-
And lo, there are truck chases and car chases and club shoot-outs and multiple people falling off buildings and an epic train derailment and approximately 197 shots of Mark Wahlberg using some poor bastard’s body as a shield as it’s plugged full of bullet holes.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Remember lo those many weeks ago when the ground wasn't covered in snow?—
Amber Hunt,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Interjection
-
But, oh no, that was seven years ago, and she’s bounced around with six international teams and two WNBA teams since.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Overriding that, maybe this loss is one more reminder to Heat brass that, no, this roster is not good enough.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gee-whiz.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gee-whiz. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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