1
as in pure
free from sin
an innocent baby
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in acquitted
free from guilt or blame
the robbery suspect was eventually found to be innocent
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3
as in unaffected
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
an innocent offer to sing before the gathering
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4
as in naive
lacking in worldly wisdom or informed judgment
an innocent young woman who felt a little out of place among her more sophisticated roommates
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5
as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
good-natured teasing that is just innocent fun
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6
as in ignorant
not informed about or aware of something
a woman who seems entirely innocent of good manners and common courtesy
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as in angel
an innocent or gentle person
an innocent who is often puzzled by and prey to the evils of the world
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of innocent
David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
Those accused of crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
In 1994, Hezbollah struck a private Jewish community center, the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association building in Buenos Aires, murdering 85 innocents and injuring another 300.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for innocent 
Adjective
Directed by Robert Mulligan and starring Gregory Peck — as the small-town lawyer Atticus Finch defending an innocent Black man accused of rape in 1930s Alabama — the movie was described by Lee herself as a work of art.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
Those accused of crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
Some were likely innocents caught in the crossfire.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
In 1994, Hezbollah struck a private Jewish community center, the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association building in Buenos Aires, murdering 85 innocents and injuring another 300.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for innocent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocent
Adjective
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The Shielding Suit, a futuristic tracksuit made of pure silver, provides comprehensive protection against various forms of tracking and surveillance.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
17 Feb. 2025
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Additionally, Butler's pure feistiness should help Golden State in terms of toughness on the court.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Since the law went into effect last month, TikTok — which claims 170 million U.S. users — has remained largely unaffected on American phones that had already downloaded the app.—
Sapna Maheshwari,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
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More than $50 million in federal funds that Alabama received for this year's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was unaffected by Trump's executive order because the funds came from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, al.com reported.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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From there sprung Brian, played by Lou Taylor Pucci, an alien who looks like a new-age guru in a tracksuit, and, depending on the scene, can be naive, manipulative, aloof, romantic, cruel and even self-pitying.—
William Earl,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2025
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Things were exacerbated by naive decisions made by United players on both sides of the ball.—
Carl Anka,
The Athletic,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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While some argue that eating an item with the intent to pay for it later is harmless, others point out that this habit often crosses a line.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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While click baiting may be harmless, producing hate and discontent for personal financial gain is despicable.—
Rochelle Eastman,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Put simply, many Americans are woefully ignorant about the structure and features of their government.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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Reading it, one is reminded, once again, that Trump is a politician who is cunning but semiliterate and ignorant.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This organizer comes in three stylish colors to choose from: avocado green, angel white, and olive green.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2025
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Sheila’s chambers were decorated with pictures and figurines of angels.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Many fans found its generally joyous treatment of Miranda’s guiltless affair with Che, a nonbinary comedian, in the first season off-putting.—
Lili Loofbourow,
Washington Post,
21 June 2023
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In the wake of Franco’s death, in 1975, came the pacto del olvido, or pact of oblivion—a determination, enshrined in the Amnesty Law of 1977, to brush away the vestiges of former crimes and hence to move onward with a guiltless transition to democracy.—
Anthony Lane,
The New Yorker,
24 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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The genuine impact of a viral trend can differ in menswear compared to womenswear.—
Maliha Shoaib,
Vogue,
11 Feb. 2025
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Indeed, with some of these advanced tools capable of cloning a genuine website in just a matter of a few clicks, Warmenhoven said, phishing has become both more frequent and effective.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
10 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near innocent
Cite this Entry
“Innocent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocent. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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