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
-
The sensational pianist Yuja Wang returns to the San Francisco Symphony this week, joining the Mahler Chamber Orchestra under concertmaster/leader Matthew Truscott.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Bryce Leonard was sensational, striking out 15 in a complete game shutout for Stoneham during a 4-0 Middlesex League victory over Watertown.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Jobs was in charge of the flashy stuff like the new, colorful iMac.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Cranberries and lemons come together to create a colorful dessert that's both tangy and sweet.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
22 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
-
In Boston Marathon, all’s well that ends well The 2026 Boston Marathon is in the books, but not without a little controversy.—
Robert Abitbol,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That’s the fewest of any Florida batch since, well, the last two years.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Interjection
-
The odds look low from here, but hey, stranger things have happened.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
So, the tanker captain said, hey, what the heck?—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 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
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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
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Remember lo those many weeks ago when the ground wasn't covered in snow?—
Amber Hunt,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Interjection
-
Attention could have been easily switched to Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final, but no.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
So no, someone doesn't have your credit card number or home address from this incident.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gee-whiz.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gee-whiz. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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