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
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
My key question at the meal: when quantum computing would stop being a gee-whiz technology that doesn’t actually do any real work, and start revolutionizing everything as the hype machine has taught us to expect.
—John Koetsier, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
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
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
My key question at the meal: when quantum computing would stop being a gee-whiz technology that doesn’t actually do any real work, and start revolutionizing everything as the hype machine has taught us to expect.
—John Koetsier, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
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
-
Quarterback Josh Allen was sensational Sunday in the Bills’ 28-21 win over the Chiefs at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But uncredited parts in the sensational 1961 Carroll Baker thriller Something Wild, and Norman Jewison's nightclub comedy 40 Pounds of Trouble from the year after, led to significant parts in some of the landmark films of the latter half of the Hollywood century.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Eating a variety of colorful fruits provides essential vitamins that help immune cells develop, communicate, and respond effectively.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
-
When the colorful bracts on poinsettia plants fade, prune them away by cutting the bare stems at a leaf node.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 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
-
Ragged Branch Distillery Located in Charlottesville, a town well known for its wine rather than its whiskey, Ragged Branch Distillery is named for nearby Ragged Mountain and its 800-acre home, Pounding Branch Farm.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Out of concern for further losses, the family plans to sell about 100 remaining calves early — well ahead of the typical February market window.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Interjection
-
But, hey, nothing gold can stay — especially across 27 seasons.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But hey, two billionaire friends are better than one, right?—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
6 Jan. 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
-
The answer to each query was no.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Eight California Republicans voted no.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gee-whiz.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gee-whiz. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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