INNOCENTLY Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

innocently

adverb

as in sincerely

without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration "You look nice," she commented innocently

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in chastely

with purity of thought and deed very young children approach the world so innocently

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 innocently The Network Started With A Missing File The origins of the incident started innocently. — Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Their amalgamation with the other color produces a degradation to which no lover of his country, no lover of excellence in the human character can innocently consent. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 It was innocently posted by motorsports reporter Cole Cusumano, who was there covering the race. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 The deciding goal started innocently enough on a Marcel Sabitzer corner kick, albeit after the World Cup’s still-odd hydration breaks. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 June 2026 The play started innocently enough with Tab Ramos bouncing a one-hop pass to Paul Caligiuri, who played the ball off his chest 40 yards from goal. — Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026 There’s a particularly tragic scene where Natalia, lured on holiday by Elsa, spots a small child innocently giggling at the table across from her at dinner. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026 For the person who innocently took her rugby kit to the hospital four years ago, representing her country would feel like a just reward for Balogun’s perseverance and strength of will. — George Ramsay, New York Times, 7 May 2026 Her pictures, which start innocently enough from the puppy-dog idea, get increasingly demeaning. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocently

Adverb

Jean is wonderful, a fiercely loyal and maternal figure who sincerely wants to help these women untangle their traumas and get back on their feet.

— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
Colquitt sincerely believes that her work can restore the dignity too often denied people in their last days.

— John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026

Definition of sincerely

Adverb

But prosecutors say Davis’ decision to write his book and speak openly about his story in interviews effectively negated the deal, and the judge in his trial agreed to allow the recording to be played to the jury.

— Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
As public sentiment has begun to more openly embrace the idea of ketamine as a therapeutic aid, Watts has become a prominent advocate.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of openly

Adverb

To Brian, films are not instructive models for living but exist purely as aesthetic objects and experiences that can be appreciated entirely in and of themselves.

— John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
In Central America, for example, ants feed on acacia trees, a relationship that, at first glance, appeared purely antagonistic.

— Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of purely

Adverb

The service The team are friendly, enthusiastic, and genuinely warm, made even more memorable by their vibrant, patterned uniforms that bring extra character to the experience.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
CFMoto On paper, the Ibex 950 looks less like an attempt to build a cheap adventure bike and more like a direct bid to build a genuinely competitive one.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of genuinely

Adverb

Dan Dow, San Luis Obispo district attorney and president of the California District Attorneys Association, said DAs are concerned about Kowalczyk narrowing judges’ ability to properly prosecute offenders.

— Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Behind the screen, five full-range speaker systems remain in place — enough, Counter said, to properly present vintage 70mm films with their original six-channel sound.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of properly

Adverb

Unfortunately, one extra week of rest is not sufficient to rectify this problem (even assuming — naively — that NYRA kicks the Belmont back a week to accommodate our shift).

— Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026
Her parents naively thought these nuns would look after their kid for a couple of weeks.

— Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Definition of naively

Adverb

The Catholic faith morally opposes the death penalty, yet many of the state’s top Catholic leaders have supported measures to expand it.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
McAdam later said Dominguez was incapable of understanding that his acts were morally and legally wrong.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of morally

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innocent

innocently

innocents

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“Innocently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocently. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of innocently

adverb

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