What Does “Sheesh” Mean on TikTok & Social Media? Origins, Uses & More

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Learn how to vent your surprise and amazement with “Sheesh”

Co-authored by Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: December 22, 2024 Fact Checked

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• “Sheesh” Meaning
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• Using “Sheesh” in a Sentence
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• Origins of the Phrase
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• “Sheesh” On Social Media
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• "Sheesh" Synonyms

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Have you stumbled across the exclamation “Sheesh!” while scrolling through TikTok or some other social media platform? If you’re not sure what it means, we can help! “Sheesh” is a common expression of surprise and amazement, though it’s been traditionally used to express annoyance since the 1950s. In this article, we’ll explain each potential meaning and how to use “Sheesh” properly yourself—plus explore its origins and surge in popularity.

”Sheesh” Meaning at a Glance

“Sheesh” is an expression of surprise, amazement, or irritation that originated in the 1950s. It’s currently used on TikTok and other social media platforms to show admiration and awe (or sometimes disbelief and annoyance).

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Section 1 of 5:

What does “Sheesh” mean?

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1. “Sheesh is an exclamation of surprise, amazement, or irritation. The expression “sheesh” has been around since the 1950s, and it’s traditionally used to express disbelief or annoyance over something. However, over time, it’s picked up additional meanings on social media to indicate amazement and admiration, depending on the context and tone of the person using it.

   • Surprised Example: “Sheesh, you made me jump! I didn’t see you coming!”
   • Annoyed Example: “My brother won’t stop blowing up my phone, and I told him I was busy. Sheesh!”
   • Amazed Example: “Sheesh, that movie was incredible!”
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Use Sheesh in a Sentence

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1. 1
   Use ‘sheesh’ to express your admiration or astonishment over something. When you find something totally impressive and want a quick way to show your utter admiration or awe, use “Sheesh!” For example, you could use it to gush over a great book, compliment someone else’s cool haircut, or talk about a particularly beautiful rainbow or sunset.

   • “Sheesh, I haven’t read a book this good in a long time! It’s so well-written!”
   • “Have you seen the new art exhibit at the museum? Sheesh, it’s breathtaking!”
2. 2
   Say ‘sheesh’ to react to something surprising. If you feel surprised or blindsided by a situation, use “Sheesh” to show people how you feel. For example, you could say “Sheesh” after losing track of time, experiencing a sudden change of plans, being surprised (intentionally or accidentally) by a friend, or reading about a crazy plot twist.

   • “Sheesh, is it 10 PM already? It feels like I just got here!”
   • “I knew something would happen in the show’s season finale, but I didn’t expect that! Sheesh!”
3. 3
   Say ‘sheesh’ to vent your frustration over something annoying. When you’re frustrated and exasperated, you can use “Sheesh” to express those feelings. For example, you might use it when someone is bothering you, something inconvenient happens to throw off your plans, or a piece of equipment (like a computer or phone) suddenly breaks at the worst possible time.

   • “Sheesh, I can’t believe I got called into work today! I was supposed to have today off.”
   • “Sheesh, the line at the store was so long; it feels like I waited for hours!”
4. 4
   Use “sheesh” alongside a sarcastic quip to be playful. Because “Sheesh” is often used to express frustration, you can use it when pretending to be exasperated (or when saying anything sarcastic to someone). For example, you might use it to respond to a friend teasing you or make a sarcastic comment about yourself.

   • Them: “Dang, you have huge circles under your eyes. Have you slept at all the last week?”
   • You: “Sheesh, thanks for the compliment! I’m really feeling the love.”
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Section 3 of 5:

Where does “sheesh” come from?

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1. “Sheesh” may come from the expression “jeez.” There’s no definitive origin story for “Sheesh,” though many believe it may be a modified version of “Jeez,” another exclamation indicating surprise or exasperation. “Jeez” is, in turn, a shortened slang version of “Jesus.”

   • On the other hand, some speculate that “Sheesh” comes from “Shhh,” which is an interjection also used to express surprise (or shush people, depending on the context).
   • However, the actual origins of “Sheesh” aren’t well-documented beyond its first known use in 1955.

Section 4 of 5:

How did “Sheesh” get popular on social media?

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1. Gen Z TikTok users (among others) have made “Sheesh” popular. “Sheesh” has been a super common expression for decades, but in recent years, it’s grown popular on social media platforms like TikTok. It’s been adopted by Gen Z TikTok users and has become a catchphrase in a TikTok trend where users post about their most impressive accomplishments (either genuinely or sarcastically).

   • Because “sheesh” has grown popular on TikTok, it’s also spread to similar social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
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Section 5 of 5:

"Sheesh" Synonyms

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1. There are plenty of other exclamations you can use instead of "Sheesh" if you're looking for variety or don't want to overuse it. Keep in mind that not all of them are as versatile as "Sheesh" and may be used to express a specific emotion (like surprise or amazement).

   • Wow - Expresses surprise and amazement
   • Whoa - Expresses surprise, amazement, and alarm
   • Gosh - Expresses surprise
   • Yikes - Expresses surprise and alarm
   • Jeepers - Expresses surprise and alarm
   • Jeez - Expresses surprise, annoyance, and disappointment
   • Pshaw - Expresses annoyance and impatience
   • Yikes - Expresses shock and alarm
   • Boo - Expresses annoyance and contempt

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