INNOCUOUS Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

innocuous

adjective

i-ˈnä-kyə-wəs

Definition of innocuous

as in harmless

not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt those innocuous lies we must tell every day if society is to remain civil

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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 innocuous Wicky sat there and answered an innocuous question about why Manu Garcia didn’t play. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 César Gastélum, the group’s front man, had become famous for such innocuous pranks. — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 But many social media platforms have become overly reliant on AI modding tools that have been quick to penalize users for innocuous content. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026 While a young child predicting that robots will one day do their homework might seem pretty innocuous, the same kind of tools can be used for far more nefarious purposes. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for innocuous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocuous

Adjective

Hay fever is defined as cold-like symptoms caused by an allergic response to a harmless outdoor and indoor substance the body identifies as harmful, according to the Mayo Clinic.

— Ron Smiley, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Lynch’s massive draft whiffs feel like harmless clerical rounding errors next to his good work in handling all the off-the-field stuff that lands on his desk.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of harmless

Adjective

Magid said his own Facebook and Instagram feeds are relatively benign.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
For example, a relative’s benign remark about the texture of a turkey dinner at a family gathering might be interpreted by someone with schizophrenia as a statement meant to embarrass them.

— Matthew Kurtz, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of benign

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innocents

innocuous

innominate

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“Innocuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocuous. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of innocuous

adjective

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