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

Dr Hoggett’s office was in a hospital across town, a building with long corridors, low ceilings, handwashing stations and works of art that were at once innocuous and ill at ease. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026

The feeling is cheeky and curious, a soundtrack to innocuous mischief. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026

All perfectly comfortable, well-designed, if a little innocuous across the board. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026

Employees who were tasked with making the Unicorn Frappuccino in 2017, along with interested observers, took to social media at the time to air their grievances regarding the seemingly innocuous pink drink. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!