Innocuous
Not harmful or offensive; harmless and unlikely to cause a reaction or injury.
adjectiveInnocuous
Not harmful or offensive; harmless and unlikely to cause a reaction or injury.
adjectiveImagine This
Picture a small, friendly insect that lands on your hand and simply rests there with no bite or sting, proving it is innocuous.
Sounds Like
ih-NOK-yoo-uhs
Looks Like
Looks like the word 'innocent' in spelling, hinting at a harmless meaning.
Remember This
Etymology connects to innocence: innocuous comes from Latin innocuus meaning not harmful, related to but distinct from 'innocent.'
Other Forms
Connect With
harmless, benign, safe, inoffensive, nonharmful
Note
Common pitfall: do not confuse with 'innocent' (free from guilt) or with 'noxious' (harmful). Innocuous often describes things that are safe or inoffensive, not dangerous or provocative.
Study Deeper
- The medication is innocuous and has minimal side effects.
- Her question was innocuous and drew only polite laughter.
From Latin innocuus meaning not harmful, formed from in- 'not' + nocuus 'harmful'.
IN-NO-HARM-ous: read as 'in no harm,' reminding you that innocuous means not harmful.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Benign
adjectiveGentle and kind-hearted; harmless or not dangerous, especially in medical contexts describing non-cancerous conditions or tumors.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.