lily-white

adjective

ˈli-lē-ˈ(h)wīt How to pronounce lily-white (audio)
Definition of lily-whitenext
as in innocent
free from guilt or blame the state's lieutenant governor was the only member of the administration who could claim to have remained lily-white during the scandal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 lily-white Forced to leave their home in Shreveport, Louisiana, and her civil rights advocacy behind, Charlotte arrives in Derry apprehensive about the lily-white town and unsettling vibes that seem to blanket everything. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025 In the mid-2010s, the movie industry lurched haltingly toward greater representation after social-media campaigns called attention to the overwhelming dominance of lily-white stories and awards shows. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 7 Nov. 2025 The broadening Carlile spoke of was evident in the Americanas’ increasing diversity in what was once considered a lily-white genre, as well as the growth of interest among young people for new old souls like Jesse Welles. — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Sep. 2025 To the naked eye, the sport’s lily-white facade is deeply pervasive. — Essence, 17 Oct. 2024 The suburbs have long and deep histories of racial exclusion, creating the lily-white neighborhoods that benefited generations of white families. — Becky Nicolaides / Made By History, TIME, 15 Aug. 2024 Riding was a lily-white sport there, too, but there wasn’t the same kind of ceiling on what was possible for a Black man. — Ryan Lenora Brown, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lily-white
  1. innocent
  2. blameless
  3. irreproachable
  4. guiltless
Adjective
  • Other officers helped the innocent driver walk to a nearby gas station.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
    — ByTony Atkins, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • The Red Sox weren’t exactly blameless in the Devers saga, and the whole thing could’ve been avoided with better communication between player and franchise.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Historically of course, unlike the Solomon Islands, France is not blameless here, with coal having powered its industrial revolution dating back to the 1800s, and the shift to clean energy being much recent.
    — Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of blameless
Adjective
  • Rather than focus on a single irreproachable hero, Mendonça Filho dilates his lens to take in an expansive world.
    — Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Classics from the diasporic Vietnamese repertoire are included, too, with irreproachable instructions.
    — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of irreproachable
Adjective
  • In any year, in any culture, there are no antagonists (save for Nazis) better suited as action cinema heavies; rooting against child trafficking lowlifes is moral, easy, and best of all, a completely guiltless pleasure.
    — Andy Crump, IndieWire, 15 June 2026
  • Chick lit was flippant and fizzy and fun, above all, as effervescent and guiltless as a vodka soda.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 4 May 2026
Definition of guiltless

Browse Nearby Words

lily-livered
lily-white
limb
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lily-white.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lily-white. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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