INNOCUOUS Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Relevance

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 innocuous Something as seemingly innocuous as a gentle tap on the skin signals specialized nerve cells to convert the physical force into an electrical signal to the brain. —

Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026 The earliest paintings on view, produced while Duchamp was still a teenager, are pleasant, innocuous landscapes dominated by chunky strokes of green—Post-Impressionism lite. —

Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026 No idea, belief, purchase, product, or event can be ordinary or innocuous. —

Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026 Officially, the plane was civilian doing innocuous civilian things. —

David Szondy march 29, New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for innocuous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocuous

Adjective

To an uncritical eye, the messages might have seemed like a harmless attempt at motivating a team.

— Hettie O'Brien, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
Each piece looks harmless on its own.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026