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
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 innocuous
And as with your grandmother’s ability to counter rudeness with a clever quip, this seemingly innocuous cocktail, too, packs a mighty punch.
—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
The evidence suggests that a seemingly random sequence in an innocuous GPS field is broadcast to any device that asks for positioning data (yes, that includes your phone).
—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
This is something that a guy would think is innocuous, but any woman would gather up all of her friends and go to war over.
—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
The report itself that came out from his physician was mostly fairly innocuous.
—
NBC news,
31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocuous
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
The evidence suggests that a seemingly random sequence in an innocuous GPS field is broadcast to any device that asks for positioning data (yes, that includes your phone).
—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
This is something that a guy would think is innocuous, but any woman would gather up all of her friends and go to war over.
—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
The report itself that came out from his physician was mostly fairly innocuous.
—
NBC news,
31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocuous
Adjective
-
The Korean Football Association was furious, responding to this juvenile, but ultimately harmless, prattle by boycotting the Korean press.
-
Everyday activities like showering and cooking can create indoor condensation that may appear harmless, but can actually pose serious problems if it's not controlled.
Adjective
-
Imaging this week showed Brown has a stress reaction in his neck, which was in the same spot as his 2024 ailment that ultimately had been diagnosed as an osteoma (benign bone tumor).
-
Where the Lipoma Claim Comes From Online posts have spread the idea that the mushroom can shrink lipomas, the benign fatty tumors that commonly form under a dog’s skin.
Adjective
-
But the document also made clear, as every criminal case must, that the charges were accusations and that the defendant was presumed innocent until proven guilty.
-
Nearly two-dozen suspects are now off the streets after being charged with dozens of shootings involving innocent bystanders.
Cite this Entry
“Innocuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocuous. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
