Innocuous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /i-ˈnä-kyə-wəs/ in·noc·u·ous

Meaning & Definition of Innocuous

Innocuous (adjective)

  1. not likely to bother or offend, inoffensive
  2. causing no injury or damage, harmless

Innocuous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt

    "those innocuous lies we must tell every day if society is to remain civil"

    similar: anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, inoffensive, safe, white
    related: healthful, healthy, salubrious, wholesome, benignant, sound, trustworthy, gentle, gracious, mild, nonthreatening, painless, unobjectionable, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous
    opposite: adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked
    near: poisonous, venomous, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, offensive, painful, scathing, wounding, deadly, fatal, lethal, ruinous, destructive, insidious, malignant, noxious, pestilent, polluted, tainted

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Innocuous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Innocuous:

anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, inoffensive, safe, white

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Innocuous

Words with the opposite meaning of Innocuous:

adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked

Related Words for Innocuous

healthful, healthy, salubrious, wholesome, benignant, sound, trustworthy, gentle, gracious, mild, nonthreatening, painless, unobjectionable, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Near Antonyms of Innocuous

poisonous, venomous, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, offensive, painful, scathing, wounding, deadly, fatal, lethal, ruinous, destructive, insidious, malignant

Word Forms of Innocuous

Derived words: innocuously (adverb), innocuousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Innocuous

Latin innocuus, from in- + nocēre see innocent:1

First known use: 1631

Frequently Asked Questions about Innocuous

What does "Innocuous" mean?

"Innocuous" means not likely to bother or offend, inoffensive. As an adjective, it is defined as: not likely to bother or offend, inoffensive.

What is another word for "Innocuous"?

Other words for "Innocuous" include anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, inoffensive, safe and white. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Innocuous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Innocuous"?

There are 30 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Innocuous". Common alternatives include anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, inoffensive, safe and white.

What is the opposite of "Innocuous"?

Antonyms of "Innocuous" include adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious and detrimental. Near antonyms include poisonous, venomous, menacing and ominous.

How do you use "Innocuous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Innocuous" in a sentence: "those innocuous lies we must tell every day if society is to remain civil".

Is "Innocuous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Innocuous" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Innocuous"?

"Innocuous" is pronounced /i-ˈnä-kyə-wəs/ and divided into syllables as in·noc·u·ous.

What is the origin of the word "Innocuous"?

"Innocuous" comes from Latin innocuus, from in- + nocēre see innocent:1. First known use: 1631.