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
Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Apr. 2026
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
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
Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Apr. 2026
Wow, gee whiz, golly wolly!
—Eric Todisco, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2023
Adjective
While it has historically been linked to the promotion of science and gee-whiz stories that seek to fascinate people, through time its roles have diversified to showcase that one strength of science journalism as a profession is a critical stance on scientific and technology issues.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Apr. 2026
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
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
This does not exclude that some science journalism will rightly be of the gee whiz variety or will prioritize entertainment value or will see its primary usefulness as linked to science literacy.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Apr. 2026
Wow, gee whiz, golly wolly!
—Eric Todisco, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gee-whiz
Adjective
-
Combs’ four-year, two-month sentence came as a second shock to a captive courtroom audience after the split verdict was read following his sensational eight-week trial.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
-
Francisco was sensational on defense too, with 101 blocks on top of 306 kills with just 50 errors.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
15 June 2026
Interjection
-
And in the Windsor Enclosure, well, just about anything goes.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
But there’s also something more disquieting at work here, and not just when George’s advances begin to feel very much like, well, advances.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
The front entrance is teeming with a few dozen people, filled with colorful artwork and a TV monitor showing old video of a train that used to run through the property.—
David Wade,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
Summer is the season to embrace colorful stones in addition to the classics.—
Aemilia Madden,
Vogue,
18 June 2026
Interjection
-
But, again, compared to a halfway decent gym or, hey, one of Equinox’s $40,000 a year memberships, even pricey adjustable dumbbells can feel like an absolute bargain.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
But hey, the factory workers do finally get their pizza party during the credits!—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 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
-
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
-
Her skirt is couture from Nike, aptly, named by its co-founders Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman for the Greek goddess of victory lo these many decades ago, after Bowerman figured out the whole waffle-sole thing by destroying his wife’s waffle iron in his kitchen.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Though the missing books have been on the DA’s radar since the last century, no one’s had a lead on the thief lo these many decades.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
20 Apr. 2026
Interjection
-
Councilmembers McOsker, Bob Blumenfield, John Lee, Adrin Nazarian and Monica Rodriguez voted no.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Little polyurethane nodes are cast in the shape of Cs on the medial side and no.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gee-whiz.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gee-whiz. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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