woo woo

plural woo woos · alternative woo · alternative woo-woo · alternative woowoo

1. countablederogatoryslangA person readily accepting supernatural, paranormal, occult, or pseudoscientific phenomena, or emotion-based beliefs and explanations.

   That reporter is a bit of a woo woo.

2. derogatoryslanguncountableSupernatural, paranormal, occult, esoteric, or pseudoscientific phenomena, or emotion-based beliefs and explanations.

   He is really into all that woo woo.

   2 more examples

   Near-synonyms: supernatural, paranormal, occult, esotericism, pseudoscience, quackery

   […] there would still be realists who did not buy the woo-woo.

   2017 May 16, Kevin R, “When your food is a sin against God”, in alt.atheism (Usenet), message-ID <500f03b2-b72d-44cc-aff3-c45aec3d3da8@googlegroups.com>

   Synonyms: supernatural, paranormal, occult, esotericism, pseudoscience, quackery

comparative more woo woo · superlative most woo woo · alternative woo · alternative woo-woo · alternative woowoo

1. derogatoryslangSupernatural, pseudoscientific.

   He made a living out of woo woo beliefs.

   1 more example

   One person's wonderful supplement is another person's quackery. There are continual skirmishes—if not outright war—between some of the more woo-woo elements of the wellness industry and science and fact-based solutions.

   2020 April 3, Brigid Delaney, “Elle Macpherson Is Our May Cover Star”, in Harper's Bazaar, archived from the original on 13 Apr 2020

2. derogatoryslangReadily accepting supernatural, paranormal, occult, or pseudoscientific phenomena, or emotion-based beliefs and explanations.

   Paltrow’s family wasn’t especially woo-woo.

   2020 April 8, Marisa Meltzer, “Gwyneth Paltrow Has the Last Laugh”, in Town & Country

   2 more examples

   Pert is a talented scientist who went woo woo many years ago for reasons I don’t have time to go into here.

   2005 April 18, “What the (Bleep) Were They Thinking?”, in Skeptico, archived from the original on 18 May 2020

   Open-minded and vaguely woo-woo herself, she, too, left Jeffrey's chamber of Yoni floating.

   2016, Melissa Broder, So Sad Today

plural woo woos

1. An alcoholic cocktail consisting of peach schnapps, vodka and cranberry juice.

   Only top-shelf liquor is served, though Sasha refuses to serve drinks he deems fratlike. These include woo woos, kamikazes and shots of any kind.

   2000 May 7, Julia Chaplin, “Buzz Off: Secret Bars That Spurn Hype”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 26 May 2025

plural woo woos

1. childishThe sound of a siren.