Synonyms of innocuous

innocuous

adjective

i-ˈnä-kyə-wəs 

as in harmless

not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt

those innocuous lies we must tell every day if society is to remain civil

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harmless
• benign
• innocent
• safe
• inoffensive
• white
• anodyne
• healthy
• sound
• mild
• gentle
• benignant
• healthful
• wholesome
• salubrious
• hurtless
• unobjectionable
• gracious
• trustworthy
• nonthreatening
• nontoxic
• painless
• noninfectious
• nonpoisonous
• nondestructive
• noncorrosive
• nonpolluting
• nonfatal
• nonlethal
• nonvenomous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dangerous
• harmful
• bad
• adverse
• noxious
• injurious
• detrimental
• evil
• deleterious
• prejudicial
• damaging
• pernicious
• ill
• mischievous
• poisonous
• hurtful
• wicked
• ominous
• baneful
• sinister
• hazardous
• baleful
• menacing
• venomous
• threatening
• nocuous
• risky
• unsafe
• perilous
• unsound
• unhealthy
• painful
• unwholesome
• nasty
• unhealthful
• offensive
• lethal
• deadly
• fatal
• insidious
• destructive
• noxious
• scathing
• malignant
• ruinous
• parlous
• noisome
• polluted
• imperiling
• jeopardizing
• wounding
• pestilent
• tainted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of innocuous

That included building seemingly innocuous details in the main set that could, once things got very dark, be weaponized later. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2026

Welker’s comment may seem innocuous or even complimentary to Trump by suggesting an outsized importance in this year’s elections. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026

In its absence, the sky looks innocuous, like a theater after a play. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Although an innocuous move at first glance, Ralph Alvarado’s decision to remove mentions of Trump on his campaign materials comes as some worry the president’s slump in national polling could hurt the GOP in November’s midterms. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

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