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
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Recent Examples of innocuous
Rand and her crew often get calls asking for help identifying the weed, which also resembles poison hemlock, as well as the more innocuous Queen Anne’s lace.
—
Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The innocuous question kick-started a new type of road trip for McCarthy, who drove across the country for six weeks on a whim to reconnect with old friends.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Even their most innocuous comments were made off the record, though some of the same attendees who’d refused to be formally interviewed did later request to follow me on Instagram.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
While some news segments can be fairly innocuous, others can be upsetting—and those stories can switch from one to the next after only a commercial break.
—Ella Cerón, Parents, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocuous
Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The innocuous question kick-started a new type of road trip for McCarthy, who drove across the country for six weeks on a whim to reconnect with old friends.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Even their most innocuous comments were made off the record, though some of the same attendees who’d refused to be formally interviewed did later request to follow me on Instagram.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
While some news segments can be fairly innocuous, others can be upsetting—and those stories can switch from one to the next after only a commercial break.
—Ella Cerón, Parents, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocuous
Adjective
-
In the classic version, participants play a kind of video game in which human figures—some Black, some white—are holding either guns or harmless objects.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
8 Apr. 2026
-
This makes harmful language appear harmless or funny.—
Sharlette A. Kellum,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Under this system, manufacturers can use limitless amounts of sugar and refined grain products — traditional ingredients — but not a range of benign or beneficial ingredients such as protein concentrates, fiber, flavor extracts, or even carbonation.—
David S. Ludwig,
STAT,
9 Apr. 2026
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Pancreatic NETs are a rare type of tumor that forms in hormone-making cells of the pancreas and may be benign or cancerous, according to the National Cancer Institute.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Critics of the system say its an invasion of privacy that creates a mass surveillance network and tracks innocent people during their daily travels.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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The 50-year-old coach said the interaction was completely innocent.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Innocuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocuous. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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