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innocently

adverb

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

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 Widowed and nearing 60, Tony enjoys a quiet but contented routine, suddenly injected with anxiety when, during the school day, one of his young pupils innocently notes that his right hand looks frozen. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026 Homer, of course, is perhaps the most lovable dimwit ever created, and his dynamic with Bart — the quick-to-anger suburban dad, the innocently mischievous adolescent son — is pure Americana. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocently
  1. sincerely
  2. chastely
  3. openly
  4. purely
  5. genuinely
  6. properly
  7. naively
  8. morally
Adverb
  • Press notes from Particle6 encourage reporters to engage sincerely with Norwood and maintain there is no script or pre-written answers.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Most of these programs are offered through wholesale channels rather than the retail bank on the corner, which is why the loan officer at a national depository may sincerely believe no such option exists.
    — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of sincerely
Adverb
  • Take The Music Lesson, a study of a young woman playing the virginal, closely watched by a gentleman, which Graham-Dixon reads as a depiction of Collegiants chastely performing and singing psalms.
    — Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Definition of chastely
Adverb
  • Coy McAlexander, Remedora's CEO, has openly acknowledged facilitating the sale of retatrutide.
    — Daniel Gilbert, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • This is where financial risk control measures, such as internal monitoring of accounting activities and openly communicating with stakeholders, are key.
    — Shawn L. Davenport, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of openly
Adverb
  • Vasseur did not wish to discuss the possible final 2026 championship outlook, saying his attention was purely on present performance and taking steps; focus on the process, not the outcome.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Catering to the Volume, Not the Power User From a purely capitalistic standpoint, power users who demand high literacy, strict prompt adherence, and investigative rigor represent a tiny fraction of Google's user base.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of purely
Adverb
  • Whether Bultaco’s latest revival can turn nostalgia into a genuinely sustainable motorcycle business remains to be seen.
    — Bultaco, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than functioning as another Palm Beach stage on which to see and be seen, it’s tucked discreetly behind the hotel, surrounded by greenery and striped loungers—a genuinely private place to disappear for an afternoon.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of genuinely
Adverb
  • Most residual errors identified in recent evaluations fall into mild-to-moderate severity when the note gets properly reviewed.
    — Pat Williams, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • And even a Disneyland classic such as Pirates of the Caribbean requires deep analytical reframing to properly understand it.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 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
  • Peck walked away with a new appreciation of the range of his grandfather, who was best known for playing heroic and morally upright roles in films such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Cape Fear and The Omen.
    — Scott Huver, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Eager to make the material hers, the helmer had the idea of focusing on Anne Sofie, the mother with the most questionable behaviour, morally and ethically.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of morally

Browse Nearby Words

innocent
innocently
innocents
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Cite this Entry

“Innocently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocently. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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