inoffensive

in·of·fen·sive

adjective \ˌin-ə-ˈfen(t)-siv\

Definition of INOFFENSIVE

1

: causing no harm or injury

2

a : giving no provocation : peaceable

b : not objectionable to the senses

— in·of·fen·sive·ly adverb

— in·of·fen·sive·ness noun

Examples of INOFFENSIVE

1. The priest was a mild-mannered inoffensive fellow.
2. <an inoffensive little joke at the opening of his speech>

First Known Use of INOFFENSIVE

1646

Related to INOFFENSIVE

Synonyms

anodyne, benign, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, harmless, safe, white

Antonyms

adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked

Related Words

healthful, healthy, salubrious, wholesome; benignant; sound, trustworthy; gentle, gracious, mild; nonthreatening, painless, unobjectionable; noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Near Antonyms

poisonous, venomous; menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening; hazardous, imperiling (or imperilling), jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound; nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome; offensive, painful, scathing, wounding; deadly, fatal, lethal, ruinous; destructive, insidious, malignant, noxious, pestilent, polluted, tainted

Rhymes with INOFFENSIVE

hypertensive, hypotensive