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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 innocent
Adjective
An army of trial watchers purports, without proof, that Clancy is entirely innocent—that she was somehow framed by Patrick, who has testified in her defense. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026 Furious at the attacks on innocent Palestinian children, Perlmutter shows Teng photos of dead bodies. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
Whatever conclusions investigators might reach, the loss of at least 50 souls, and the wounding of dozens more innocents, is an unbearable blow for any community. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026 In his work, women were still ethereal innocents who had yet to become believable human beings. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 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
  • Over time, no existing civilization has remained ethnically or culturally pure or set in the same borders.
    — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
  • There’s nothing slavishly authentic here, but the recipes’ bones are pure Mexico.
    — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 25 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
  • The same statement also said that construction and installation at facilities unaffected by the fire would continue as normal and that air quality was being continuously monitored.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The rest of the facility was unaffected with no other injuries reported, according to hospital officials and witnesses.
    — Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of unaffected
Adjective
  • Only the most naïve of lawmakers believe there won’t be consequences to taxpayers that will lead to their constituents paying more taxes.
    — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Unauthorized sequels reveal the extremes of why people make movies in the first place, from purely cynical money grabs to pure — even naive — devotion to characters and their world.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • Hay fever is defined as cold-like symptoms caused by an allergic response to a harmless outdoor and indoor substance the body identifies as harmful, according to the Mayo Clinic.
    — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Lynch’s massive draft whiffs feel like harmless clerical rounding errors next to his good work in handling all the off-the-field stuff that lands on his desk.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmless
Adjective
  • Mamdani’s ignorant opinion illustrates Kissinger’s concern, relying on emotional display rather than the facts.
    — Daniel Kolkey, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Howard Bryant's comparison this week between Cunningham's comments and Colin Kaepernick's protests was both ignorant and desperate.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignorant
Noun
  • Superhero Capital led the round and was joined by FIRSTPICK and angel investors.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • May God’s angels carry you to your place of rest and true peace.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of angel
Adjective
  • The Red Sox weren’t exactly blameless in the Devers saga, and the whole thing could’ve been avoided with better communication between player and franchise.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of blameless

Browse Nearby Words

innocency
innocent
innocently
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Innocent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocent. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on innocent

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about innocent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All