inoffensive
adjective
in·of·fen·sive
ˌin-ə-ˈfen(t)-siv 
1
: causing no harm or injury
2
a
: giving no provocation : peaceable
b
: not objectionable to the senses
inoffensively
adverb
inoffensiveness
noun
Examples of inoffensive in a Sentence
The priest was a mild-mannered inoffensive fellow.
an inoffensive little joke at the opening of his speech
Recent Examples on the Web
The party scenes with leggy dancers, meant to be decadent, are inoffensive.
—
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
But its efforts to remain anonymous and inoffensive have been undone by allegations of labor abuses, environmental criticisms and, despite moving its headquarters to Singapore, persistent concerns about its Chinese ownership.
—Timothy McLaughlin, Wired News, 5 May 2025
The actual criterion, however, has tended to be a sort of weak-willed, inoffensive obsequiousness, such that all the countries on the Security Council will approve of you—and can use you as a scapegoat whenever necessary.
—Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
At night, be warned that a red light district — largely inoffensive (depending in your POV) but real — sits behind the hotel and envelops a Thai boxing ring.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoffensive
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Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
But its efforts to remain anonymous and inoffensive have been undone by allegations of labor abuses, environmental criticisms and, despite moving its headquarters to Singapore, persistent concerns about its Chinese ownership.
—Timothy McLaughlin, Wired News, 5 May 2025
The actual criterion, however, has tended to be a sort of weak-willed, inoffensive obsequiousness, such that all the countries on the Security Council will approve of you—and can use you as a scapegoat whenever necessary.
—Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
At night, be warned that a red light district — largely inoffensive (depending in your POV) but real — sits behind the hotel and envelops a Thai boxing ring.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoffensive
Cite this Entry
“Inoffensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inoffensive. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inoffensive
adjective
in·of·fen·sive
ˌin-ə-ˈfen(t)-siv
: not offensive or harmful
inoffensively
adverb
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