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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aw-shucks
That puts her in conflict with Elliott Emerson (Richard Thomas), a local realtor who rules the community organization with an aw-shucks demeanor that masks a cage fighter’s spirit.
—
Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
An aw-shucks countenance barely hiding a righteous anger that seeks to pile-drive progressive California into submission.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
And Reilly is aces at playing aw-shucks-who-me innocence while Gary enjoys the best of both worlds, as his friend Eric slyly points out during a dinner party.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Especially Harbour, which checks out, seeing how showrunner Steven Conrad claims to have built the series around the actor’s perpetually warm, aw-shucks persona.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
Bridgeman doesn’t speak with arrogance but with a calm, aw-shucks confidence.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
So far, the closest person the 2020s have to fill that slot is Glen Powell, a native of the Lone Star State blessed with a smile that melts butter and and aw-shucks amiability.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026
But there was always more to Aydın than his aw-shucks dimples.
—Moisés Naím, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Played by the versatile Domhnall Gleeson, in a performance that couldn’t be more different from his memorably unnerving turns in The Patient and Black Mirror, incoming Truth-Teller editor-in-chief Ned Sampson has a sort of aw-shucks, pre-Ozark-Jason-Bateman vibe.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
An aw-shucks countenance barely hiding a righteous anger that seeks to pile-drive progressive California into submission.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
And Reilly is aces at playing aw-shucks-who-me innocence while Gary enjoys the best of both worlds, as his friend Eric slyly points out during a dinner party.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Especially Harbour, which checks out, seeing how showrunner Steven Conrad claims to have built the series around the actor’s perpetually warm, aw-shucks persona.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
Bridgeman doesn’t speak with arrogance but with a calm, aw-shucks confidence.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
So far, the closest person the 2020s have to fill that slot is Glen Powell, a native of the Lone Star State blessed with a smile that melts butter and and aw-shucks amiability.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026
But there was always more to Aydın than his aw-shucks dimples.
—Moisés Naím, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Played by the versatile Domhnall Gleeson, in a performance that couldn’t be more different from his memorably unnerving turns in The Patient and Black Mirror, incoming Truth-Teller editor-in-chief Ned Sampson has a sort of aw-shucks, pre-Ozark-Jason-Bateman vibe.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aw-shucks
Adjective
-
Not because older Americans are more naive.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
When it was first released in December 1980, it was seen as too weird for kids and too naive for adults, but it has since been reconsidered as a unique snapshot of intersecting talents — a strange, wonderful, one-of-a-kind movie.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
These armed hostilities have maimed, mutilated and killed millions of human beings — many of them innocent civilians.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
Becerra may have been an innocent victim, but $120,000 a year is a lot of money to pay someone to babysit a largely unused stack of cash.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The useful answer may be simpler than expected once the real priority becomes obvious.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
-
The decor with sheepskin rugs and arm lamps for reading lights is neither flashy nor overtly quirky, but simple and homey, as if it were designed by a tasteful Scandinavian grandmother who relocated to the wilds of Patagonia.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aw-shucks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aw-shucks. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
