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
-
Gumbs is coming off a sensational showing at the NFL Scouting Combine.—
Mike Kaye
Updated March 5,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Brilliant blue waves meet a sensational crescent of white sand at Salt Whistle Bay, one of the most stunning anchorages in the southeastern Caribbean.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Here, a guest pairs a statement trench with dainty heels, letting a colorful leather clutch add just the right amount of oomph.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
-
K-pop is a game of trend-setting and following, and BLACKPINK refuse to let go of their crowns, even if that means making a just-colorful-enough impression in the form of an EP that’s a hair under 15 minutes, with maybe one or two interesting moments.—
Alex Ramos,
Pitchfork,
4 Mar. 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
-
The humanitarian calculus A Kurdish insurgency, however well intentioned, would be fought predominantly in civilian terrain.—
John Calabrese,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The problem in Tuesday’s 86-77 loss at Boise State was rebounding, but the Aztecs didn’t have a problem with that in the early going because, well, there weren’t many.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Interjection
-
But hey, that’s Colin From Accounts.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The West Coast outpost of Sean Kelly Gallery is no longer, but hey, there’s a Raising Cane’s a block away.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
28 Feb. 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
-
Oh no, the masters of the algorithm know us too well.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Well, Novoplansky's team concluded that no, the evidence Chiolerio and his team gathered does not suggest the trees anticipated the solar eclipse or communicated this or any other information to other trees.—
Julian Dossett,
Space.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gee-whiz.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gee-whiz. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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