innocent 1 of 2

adjective

ˈi-nə-sənt How to pronounce innocent (audio)
Definition of innocentnext
1
as in pure
free from sin an innocent baby

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2
as in acquitted
free from guilt or blame the robbery suspect was eventually found to be innocent

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3
as in unaffected
free from any intent to deceive or impress others an innocent offer to sing before the gathering

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4
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment an innocent young woman who felt a little out of place among her more sophisticated roommates

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5
as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt good-natured teasing that is just innocent fun

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6
as in ignorant
not informed about or aware of something a woman who seems entirely innocent of good manners and common courtesy

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innocent

2 of 2

noun

as in angel
an innocent or gentle person an innocent who is often puzzled by and prey to the evils of the world

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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 innocent
Adjective
Her father and grandmother — now both deceased — believed Charlie was innocent, but no one else agreed. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026 Antosca wanted to give a sense of Cady’s lingering impact on the family by ending with an outdoor cookout scene echoing the way the series began, when the Bowdens were more innocent. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 July 2026
Noun
Will the world defend and support the innocents, or will people turn their backs, or, worse yet, accuse the victims of being the criminals? — Diane Gensler, Baltimore Sun, 19 May 2026 And quite frankly, that calculus essentially admits that innocents are going to be hurt, but that is a price to pay. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for innocent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocent
  1. pure
  2. guiltless
  3. unaffected
  4. naive
  5. harmless
  6. ignorant
  7. angel
  8. blameless
Adjective
  • By producing pure, highly concentrated molecules that mimic the skin’s natural functions, Lewisham claims her products are more consistent, precise and sustainable.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Reese and Styles were this draft’s best athletes, and there were other safeties in this class with better physical attributes, but Downs was the best pure football player in the class.
    — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of pure
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
Adjective
  • But millions of pounds unrefrigerated food, mostly meat and seafood, remain in the western freezer, which was unaffected by the blaze.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Owners who generated their seed with at least 50 private dice rolls, or who used a strong passphrase, were unaffected.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of unaffected
Adjective
  • Brand New Day shows Peter leaving his more naive teen years behind and truly coming of age.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Ted was genuinely out of his depth, the conflicts felt earned, and the show still had to persuade audiences that its relentless optimism wasn’t naïve.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • His nearly fatal ordeal began when a seemingly harmless lump on his cheek continued to grow.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Developed in 1916 and widely used by the 1940s, QACs — like bisphenols — were long assumed harmless when used as directed.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmless
Adjective
  • Only those stubbornly ignorant to the human cost of actual combat would be psyched to bring on more of it.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Every coach who loves God, loves this country and wants to protect women needs to speak out against coaches who are that ignorant.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignorant
Noun
  • The barrels spent their lifetime maturing on Coy Hill on the top floor of Barrelhouse 1-13, soaking up flavor and making at least one angel very drunk.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Nexus Venture Partners led the round and was joined by Y Combinator, Zetta, Liquid 2, and angel investors.
    — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of angel
Adjective
  • 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
  • Years after Leontes, a king contorted by jealousy, has ordered that his wife, the blameless Hermione, be put to death, a curtain is drawn back to reveal what appears to be a statue of her.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of blameless

Browse Nearby Words

innocency
innocent
innocently
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Cite this Entry

“Innocent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocent. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on innocent

Nglish: Translation of innocent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about innocent

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