innocuous

[ih-nok-yoo-uhs]

adjective

1. not harmful or injurious; harmless.

   an innocuous home remedy.

2. not likely to irritate or offend; inoffensive; an innocuous remark.

3. not interesting, stimulating, or significant; pallid; insipid.

   an innocuous novel.

innocuous

/ ˌɪnəˈkjuːɪtɪ, ɪˈnɒkjʊəs /

adjective

1. having little or no adverse or harmful effect; harmless

Other Word Forms

• innocuously adverb
• innocuousness noun
• innocuity noun
• uninnocuous adjective
• uninnocuously adverb
• uninnocuousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of innocuous¹

From the Latin word innocuus, dating back to 1590–1600. See in- ³, nocuous

Word History and Origins

Origin of innocuous¹

C16: from Latin innocuus harmless, from _in- ¹ + nocēre to harm

Example Sentences

When Brook innocuously gloved a short ball to give Brendan Doggett his first Test wicket, it began England's final slide of five wickets in 19 balls.

Read more on BBC

However an innocuous collision with Queensland Reds' Jock Campbell in the team's second tour match, left Daly's right forearm with a fracture running the length of the bone.

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An AFP investigation found dozens of paid gambling adverts disguised as innocuous content to circumvent Meta's ban on such promotions in Indonesia.

Read more on Barron's

Think here about that relatively innocuous trip as an attacker is moving away from goal - or a handball decision when there's no immediate likelihood of a goal.

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This has enabled an overwhelming stream of innocuous cat soap operas, but the technology can just as easily be used to make embarrassing videos of political opponents.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• banal 
• bland 
• inoffensive 
• insipid 
• painless