1
as in pure
free from sin
an innocent baby
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in acquitted
free from guilt or blame
the robbery suspect was eventually found to be innocent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unaffected
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
an innocent offer to sing before the gathering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
good-natured teasing that is just innocent fun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in ignorant
not informed about or aware of something
a woman who seems entirely innocent of good manners and common courtesy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in angel
an innocent or gentle person
an innocent who is often puzzled by and prey to the evils of the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of innocent
Marc Berman, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Many of his defenders have been quick to note he is considered innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the law.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2025
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2025
Some were likely innocents caught in the crossfire.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for innocent
Adjective
The story itself was a typically innocent Shirley Temple tale, in this a young girl who tries to reconcile her parents and her grandfather after her mother marries a Yankee.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Many of his defenders have been quick to note he is considered innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the law.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
In Europe and the Mideast and elsewhere, violence rages and innocents die.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2025
Some were likely innocents caught in the crossfire.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for innocent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocent
Adjective
-
Additionally, Butler's pure feistiness should help Golden State in terms of toughness on the court.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
But in the transactional world of Trump, Musk, and DOGE, the concept of career civil servants taking lower-paying, apolitical work to serve an intangible greater good is naive at best.—
Adam Chandler,
TIME,
20 Feb. 2025
-
The idea sounds simple, even naive: Fix the money, fix the world.—
Bryan Benson,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The three-judge panel for the appeals court rejected their claims, finding that any errors were harmless or that their arguments failed to show any violation.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Even a seemingly harmless email thread between friends had been hacked, exposing private details.—
Chad Angle,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Because not only do viewers suffer through the whitest cast ever, but also one of its most politically ignorant.—
Melanie Curry,
refinery29.com,
17 Feb. 2025
-
Greed could refer to material attachment, jealousy bleeds into hatred, and delusion encompasses similar attitudes, like living a life ignorant to Buddha’s teachings or being dull and uncaring.—
Alex Abad-Santos,
Vox,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This organizer comes in three stylish colors to choose from: avocado green, angel white, and olive green.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Sheila’s chambers were decorated with pictures and figurines of angels.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
The film, which tells the true story of an all-Black, all-female battalion in WWII, also saw Kerry Washington take home the Best Actress award in a moment of genuine shock and gratitude.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
23 Feb. 2025
-
But the film’s dull political edge doesn’t diminish the joy ride’s momentum, nor the flashes of genuine weirdness that keep us guessing.—
Beatrice Loayza,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Innocent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocent. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share