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

What appeared to be an innocuous 2025 offseason knee issue continues to loom. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

Information that looks innocuous in isolation becomes operationally useful once aggregated. — Control Risks, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Tens of thousands of complaints have poured in, many accompanied by photos of innocuous clouds or airplane condensation trails. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2026

Wicky sat there and answered an innocuous question about why Manu Garcia didn’t play. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

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