1
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
2
as in chastely
with purity of thought and deed
very young children approach the world so innocently
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Recent Examples of innocently
In a thriller, the suspense is built around a challenge posed to the protagonist — the last big score before retiring, being innocently accused of a crime or accidentally getting involved in something dangerous and deadly.
—
Anders De La Motte, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
That play started innocently enough.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
The viral clip begins with the wife innocently posing for a photo at the airport near a large window overlooking a plane.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
This game started innocently with a scoreless first period.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Joined by cohost Craig Melvin, the 53-year-old anchor was innocently interacting with fans at New York City's Rockefeller Plaza on Wednesday when Melvin spotted a woman holding up a poster of Guthrie sporting her '90s-era black bob.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
While the wife’s new friendship may have started innocently, the man felt compelled to put his family’s comfort above politeness.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Now, business leaders, workers and civilians alike have all become apathetic toward their own safety, innocently forgetting that there are measures keeping them protected every single day.
—Jim Pauley, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Anders De La Motte, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
That play started innocently enough.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
The viral clip begins with the wife innocently posing for a photo at the airport near a large window overlooking a plane.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
This game started innocently with a scoreless first period.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Joined by cohost Craig Melvin, the 53-year-old anchor was innocently interacting with fans at New York City's Rockefeller Plaza on Wednesday when Melvin spotted a woman holding up a poster of Guthrie sporting her '90s-era black bob.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025
While the wife’s new friendship may have started innocently, the man felt compelled to put his family’s comfort above politeness.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Now, business leaders, workers and civilians alike have all become apathetic toward their own safety, innocently forgetting that there are measures keeping them protected every single day.
—Jim Pauley, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocently
Adverb
-
Wole returned his gaze, equally sincerely, but Sylvester jumped between them, grabbing Wole’s hand as their father let go.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
-
In criticizing how some Republicans reacted to Charlie Kirk's death, Jimmy Kimmel alleged that conservatives were using Kirk's assassination for political advantage rather than mourning the conservative activist sincerely.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
One of the more interesting genre competitions to watch — and territory that has been genuinely lacking in interest in recent years — will be the rock categories.—
Alan Light,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
-
This neurological response evolved to keep our ancestors alive in genuinely dangerous situations.—
Anne-Laure Le Cunff,
Big Think,
29 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Items can be either purely cosmetic or allow players to advance more quickly through a game.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
-
There were several who offered workarounds, however, with some saying to use the physical shops purely to check sizing.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
In the series, the Academy Award-winning director and his older daughters openly discuss how Martin was not always the most present parent during the earlier parts of his career in the 1970s.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
While doing a press tour amid the release of her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, Swift has openly discussed her engagement to the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and offered details on her engagement ring that has caught attention for its sizable diamond.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Impossible to judge him properly before then.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Alvar Aalto’s wiggly vase is instantly recognizable—a collectible item that will properly commemorate the special occasion.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
7 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
When the frame shifts up and over the reservoir’s edge, Copco 1 appears as a concrete colossus, standing sentry over the river naively burbling below.—
Anne Reeve,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
-
But owner Danny Meyer wants to remind you about its days as a scrappy ingénue, naïvely determined to show this gritty city a thing or two about democratic dining.—
Christine Muhlke,
Air Mail,
20 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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The story follows Atlanta attorney Jason Fredricks, a successful but morally conflicted lawyer whose life unravels when human skeletal remains tied to his past resurface.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
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Other comedians have pointed to the inconsistency of balking at performing in Saudi Arabia when other governments around the world also sponsor morally unjustifiable actions.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The glorious sweep of progress toward Roman civilization and prosperity means the end of an idyllic, virtuously rustic Golden Age.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Innocently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocently. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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