as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
his persona may be that of an aw-shucks country singer, but offstage he is anything but
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Recent Examples of aw-shucks
So Far Quaid’s aw-shucks affability belies his constantly turning brain and his ambition to stretch beyond the bounds of what he’s done before.
—
Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2025
Profiles invariably zeroed in on his combination of dogged perseverance and an aw-shucks approach to his task.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Sadler was an aw-shucks, yes-sir, no-ma’am twangy singer who was raised in Texas.
—Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Gillis, with his aw-shucks demeanor and decidedly un-PC comedy, represents exactly the kind of normal-guy sensibility Bud Light desperately needs to appeal to after alienating its core audience.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Part of Allen’s aw-shucks charm has been carrying himself as just one of the guys, always approachable and eager to please.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 23 July 2024
McCain, played by Jason Tam, is presented as an aw-shucks straight man who can’t believe what his party has come to.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024
And for a long time, Mr. Justice and his family’s companies have managed to stave off one threat after another with wily legal tactics notably at odds with the aw-shucks persona that has endeared him to so many West Virginians.
—Maureen Farrell, New York Times, 12 May 2024
Damon’s Tom does transform, but the actor’s aw-shucks wholesomeness in early scenes fails to persuasively foreshadow the protagonist’s violent potential.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2025
Profiles invariably zeroed in on his combination of dogged perseverance and an aw-shucks approach to his task.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Sadler was an aw-shucks, yes-sir, no-ma’am twangy singer who was raised in Texas.
—Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024
Gillis, with his aw-shucks demeanor and decidedly un-PC comedy, represents exactly the kind of normal-guy sensibility Bud Light desperately needs to appeal to after alienating its core audience.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Part of Allen’s aw-shucks charm has been carrying himself as just one of the guys, always approachable and eager to please.
—Tim Graham, The Athletic, 23 July 2024
McCain, played by Jason Tam, is presented as an aw-shucks straight man who can’t believe what his party has come to.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024
And for a long time, Mr. Justice and his family’s companies have managed to stave off one threat after another with wily legal tactics notably at odds with the aw-shucks persona that has endeared him to so many West Virginians.
—Maureen Farrell, New York Times, 12 May 2024
Damon’s Tom does transform, but the actor’s aw-shucks wholesomeness in early scenes fails to persuasively foreshadow the protagonist’s violent potential.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aw-shucks
Adjective
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From there sprung Brian, played by Lou Taylor Pucci, an alien who looks like a new-age guru in a tracksuit, and, depending on the scene, can be naive, manipulative, aloof, romantic, cruel and even self-pitying.—
William Earl,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2025
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Things were exacerbated by naive decisions made by United players on both sides of the ball.—
Carl Anka,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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After a 16-month war that started with the horrific killing of 1,200 innocent Israelis and abduction of 250 more by Hamas terrorists and then the killing of more than 47,500 people in Gaza — mostly women and children — a fragile ceasefire began Jan. 19.—
Mike Quigley,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
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One day, during an innocent prank call in a phone booth, Richard shockingly witnesses his classmate violently get sucked into the phone receiver and disappear without a trace.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Styled by Dani Levi, Kardashian wore a simple floor-length bodycon gown from Balenciaga Couture.—
Mikelle Street,
WWD,
17 Feb. 2025
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Its simple style can be dressed up with your best evening wear or paired with casual outfits to be your next wardrobe staple.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
Joseph J. Kolb,
Fox News,
18 July 2017
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Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Thesaurus Entries Near aw-shucks
Cite this Entry
“Aw-shucks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aw-shucks. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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