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

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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 Scottie’s pursuit of Madeleine, first as a quarry, begins innocently enough. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026 His ideas align with Hinton’s, and by 2013 the two of them—along with a third partner, Fedor Fedotov’s Alex Krizhevsky—find themselves at Google, innocently pursuing their research. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 The scoring started innocently enough, Stockton marching the team 79 yards on an 11-play workmanlike touchdown drive. — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocently

Adverb

Perhaps the script is unduly tilted by Ramos’ drawling, sincerely beguiling delivery.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
And incumbents can sincerely believe important work remains unfinished.

— Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of sincerely

Adverb

The solution is a lot of morphine and a lot of rest, both of which Cathy undertakes with Adam constantly (and chastely) by her side.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
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

Yurachek openly supported Dan Reed for the chancellor's job four years ago.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
The nation also elected several historic firsts, including the first Muslim senator, the first openly gay male senator and the first Black female governor, in spite of Republican campaign attacks around identity.

— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of openly

Adverb

If Coulter’s framing takes hold with home gardeners, native, nectar-heavy species such as milkweed, asters, coneflowers and butterfly bushes may show up in beds that used to be purely ornamental.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026
While Lakshmana’s actions are presented as ways of protecting Sita, the mockery and teasing make the disfigurement hard to be seen as purely defensive and protective.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of purely

Adverb

To that end, here are seven points to keep in mind in order to strength train properly, no matter your age or fitness level.

— Laura Solla, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
When the track properly kicks in, the guitar strums, drums, and vocals are all present and well-balanced, with no element outshining another.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of properly

Adverb

Employees have become burned out and morally conflicted as their focus has shifted from pursuing drug smugglers and human traffickers to apprehending asylum seekers in courthouses and arresting day laborers at their worksites.

— Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
In some versions, she’s described as a morally deplorable witch taking part in the abuse of runaway slaves who was ultimately burned for her misdeeds and buried near the cemetery.

— Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 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 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of innocently

adverb

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