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
And there’s something almost Shakespearian about the innocent, young love between Carter (Finn Little) and Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind) from warring families. — Alex Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026 Yes, watching a show that premiered in 1990 seems innocent enough. — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 3 July 2026
Noun
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 Practically as soon as the #MeToo movement began, it was accused of going too far—sweeping up innocents in its wake, failing to allow its targets due process. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 26 Apr. 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
  • This butternut squash pasta is pure comfort, with roasted squash, garlic, and shallots blended into a creamy, smooth sauce.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026
  • Minions & Monsters kept its familiar chaos intact, but its turn toward sentiment may have left behind some of the pure silliness that built its core audience at home.
    — David Deal, Forbes.com, 7 July 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
  • Unlike the 13 colonies, East and West Florida were largely unaffected by the British Stamp Act and other taxes that fueled resentment elsewhere because the colonies produced relatively little for the British colonial economy.
    — Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Undergraduate lending is largely unaffected.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Definition of unaffected
Adjective
  • The cyclical reality awaiting ‘naive capital’ Allianz is far from the only insurer to have prospered through recent upheavals.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 July 2026
  • But performing fealty to that naïve and impoverished picture of judging had become nearly de rigueur for both liberals and conservatives.
    — Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 2 July 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • From the risk of leaks and water damage to potential electrical issues, a seemingly harmless load of laundry can occasionally turn into an expensive problem.
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
  • Even moderate drinking carries risk and is not as harmless as people, including experts, once thought.
    — Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Definition of harmless
Adjective
  • Let’s hope that George Santayana’s warning to those ignorant of history about the past repeating itself makes an exception for our present Defense Department.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 June 2026
  • And then there are amateur collectors like me, who might not know ironstone from porcelain, but whose last day on earth could be spent touching old objects in ignorant bliss.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 June 2026
Definition of ignorant
Noun
  • The first one features a six-foot tall bronze cast angel whose wings enfold around a granite bench; the sculpture was intended to offer the comfort of an angel’s embrace for visitors who take a seat there.
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The respected 13th-century Spanish rabbi Nachmanides (Ramban) chastises Lot for the atrocity of offering his daughters in place of the angels.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
Definition of angel
Adjective
  • Leaders should restore clear end-to-end accountability, align on-call and incident response with the teams that ship the code, and rebuild a blameless culture.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Schlittler wasn’t blameless in that, committing a throwing error on a pickoff play in the first inning.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 June 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 11 Jul. 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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