as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
an inoffensive little joke at the opening of his speech
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Recent Examples of inoffensive
The party scenes with leggy dancers, meant to be decadent, are inoffensive.
—
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
But its efforts to remain anonymous and inoffensive have been undone by allegations of labor abuses, environmental criticisms and, despite moving its headquarters to Singapore, persistent concerns about its Chinese ownership.
—Timothy McLaughlin, Wired News, 5 May 2025
The actual criterion, however, has tended to be a sort of weak-willed, inoffensive obsequiousness, such that all the countries on the Security Council will approve of you—and can use you as a scapegoat whenever necessary.
—Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
At night, be warned that a red light district — largely inoffensive (depending in your POV) but real — sits behind the hotel and envelops a Thai boxing ring.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoffensive
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
But its efforts to remain anonymous and inoffensive have been undone by allegations of labor abuses, environmental criticisms and, despite moving its headquarters to Singapore, persistent concerns about its Chinese ownership.
—Timothy McLaughlin, Wired News, 5 May 2025
The actual criterion, however, has tended to be a sort of weak-willed, inoffensive obsequiousness, such that all the countries on the Security Council will approve of you—and can use you as a scapegoat whenever necessary.
—Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
At night, be warned that a red light district — largely inoffensive (depending in your POV) but real — sits behind the hotel and envelops a Thai boxing ring.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoffensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoffensive
Adjective
-
Seemingly harmless details, like your child’s favorite candy or video game, can be used improperly in the wrong hands.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
-
While many non-natives are harmless, some spread quickly and disrupt natural ecosystems.—
Deryn Davidson,
The Conversation,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Another benign skin growth called seborrheic keratoses is not connected to light radiation at all.—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Looking back, at least 35 years ago, my rather benign gambling experience occurred in New Jersey.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
An induction cooktop keeps little hands safe and makes cleaning easier, while two dishwashers ensure a plethora of cookware is always ready to go.—
Lennie Omalza,
The Courier-Journal,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Esparto Fire Protection District Chief Curtis Lawrence assured county staff the property was safe, the trove of emails and other documents show, even though his department never conducted formal inspections.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Instead, Paul reacts with a fury that all but blasts the roof off: walls are bashed in, furniture collapses, a window goes bye-bye, and some innocent goldfish lose their aquarium.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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If history is any guide, many innocent people will suffer before the incompetent grovelers and the vain objects of their groveling meet their inevitable fates.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inoffensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoffensive. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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