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
Perhaps the evildoer asks for something seemingly innocuous but is part of a subtle step in a larger evil plan.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Tuesday’s release marks the first step in an annual review called benchmarking, a previously innocuous process that’s been applied to BLS jobs data in some shape or form for 90 years.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Some of their success may also be due to a fairly innocuous body part—thumbnails.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Sep. 2025
Many of their actions seem fairly innocuous.
—Sam Fleischacker, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for innocuous
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Tuesday’s release marks the first step in an annual review called benchmarking, a previously innocuous process that’s been applied to BLS jobs data in some shape or form for 90 years.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Some of their success may also be due to a fairly innocuous body part—thumbnails.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Sep. 2025
Many of their actions seem fairly innocuous.
—Sam Fleischacker, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for innocuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocuous
Adjective
-
Most sunscreens use either chemical filters (like avobenzone or oxybenzone) that absorb UV rays and convert them into harmless heat, or mineral filters (like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that act as a physical shield, reflecting rays away from the skin.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Making matters worse, this life-threatening condition can begin from something as seemingly harmless as pneumonia, a urinary tract infection or even a deep cut.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These benign growths are most often asymptomatic (without symptoms) and usually found by chance during imaging for other reasons.—
MD Published,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Jones' assessments of the situation featured everything from benign, informational updates to suggesting Parsons could get hit by a car while discussing the implications of signing the 26-year-old star to a long-term deal.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Starring Lucy Hale and Tyler Posey, the film puts a deadly twist on an innocent game.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
-
After reviewing those court records, anyone with an ounce of humanity would come away furious at the criminal cover-up perpetrated against innocent young children by priests.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Innocuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocuous. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share