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
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
Boosting the gee-whiz factor even higher, the drone both takes off from and lands on your outstretched hand.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2024
But these gee-whiz offers aren’t likely to hold back market dynamics.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 May 2024
Jimmy Olsen, Superman franchise (1938–present) Sidekick to: Clark Kent/Superman
On the big screen, Daily Planet photographer and cub reporter Jimmy Olsen is relegated to playing Clark's (and Superman's) gee-whiz cheerleader.
—Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024
Tesla arguably kicked off the dashboard screen arms race—or perhaps fingertip battle—with the gee-whiz reveal of a 43-centimeter LCD touchscreen on its Model S sedan in 2009.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Dec. 2023
In thoughtful Hollywood narratives, though, the focus often veers from the gee-whiz capabilities of AI to the emotionally relatable spectrum of how humans interact with intelligent machines.
—Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
Eric Todisco, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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
Boosting the gee-whiz factor even higher, the drone both takes off from and lands on your outstretched hand.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2024
But these gee-whiz offers aren’t likely to hold back market dynamics.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 May 2024
Jimmy Olsen, Superman franchise (1938–present) Sidekick to: Clark Kent/Superman
On the big screen, Daily Planet photographer and cub reporter Jimmy Olsen is relegated to playing Clark's (and Superman's) gee-whiz cheerleader.
—Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024
Tesla arguably kicked off the dashboard screen arms race—or perhaps fingertip battle—with the gee-whiz reveal of a 43-centimeter LCD touchscreen on its Model S sedan in 2009.
—IEEE Spectrum, 17 Dec. 2023
In thoughtful Hollywood narratives, though, the focus often veers from the gee-whiz capabilities of AI to the emotionally relatable spectrum of how humans interact with intelligent machines.
—Michael Cavna, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
Interjection
Wow, gee whiz, golly wolly!
—Eric Todisco, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gee-whiz
Adjective
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The Terps were led again by sensational freshman Derik Queen (27 points, five rebounds, two steals) in what is all but certainly his last college game.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Zelenskyy made the sensational prediction in an interview Wednesday, when the Ukrainian leader also called on the U.S. not to bring Russia in from the global political wilderness amid ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Interjection
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And oh, the power play Imagine a recent season in which the Rangers, in a tie game, get three power plays over the final 9:14 of regulation, including a 24-second five-on-three.—
Arthur Staple,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
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And, oh my God, the actors in that scene were so lovely and sweet and felt so bad.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Nicholas Galitzine rocked a very buff physique training to be He-Man, and director Travis Knight showcased many of the colorful heroes and villains, including Jared Leto as the evil Skeletor.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
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The frame’s branches keep it rustic, but the plethora of colorful gerber daisies and ferns at the base add brightness.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2025
Interjection
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And hey, maybe the curse isn’t real and something else is happening here.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2025
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And hey, who doesn’t want to save a few extra dollars for an indulgent post-trip celebration once the hard work is done?—
Tonia Ryan,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The cast of characters is incredibly detailed and charming, plus the plot is juicy.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
28 Mar. 2025
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Natalia Senanayake,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Interjection
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So, Blippi is inarguably one of the best teachers in kids’ entertainment—but why create a show focused on, well, work?—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
2 Apr. 2025
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Whether or not this is a fair assessment these days is up for debate, but in my mind meal kit recipes tend to get a bad rap for being, well, boring.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
2 Apr. 2025
Interjection
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And gee if there were only a very effective way of preventing the measles.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Well, gee, does Florida have to lead the United States in ridiculous?—
Letters to the Editor,
Orlando Sentinel,
8 Nov. 2024
Interjection
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Now a court action could resolve the question that’s been hanging over the complex for lo these many years: Can, and should, Seaside be saved?—
Tom Condon,
Hartford Courant,
29 July 2024
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Flash forward a decade and lo, Abby has found herself on a zeitgeisty FX show called The Bear.—
Andy Hoglund,
EW.com,
3 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Gee-whiz.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gee-whiz. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
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