1
as in innocency
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame
the accused embezzler eventually proved her innocence and was released
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in naturalness
the quality or state of being simple and sincere
the innocence of the child's question touched everyone present
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3
as in ignorance
the state of being unaware or uninformed
in my innocence I just assumed that quoted rate was for a week's stay and not for a single night at the health spa
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4
as in purity
the quality or state of being morally pure
in Melville's novel, the sailor Billy Budd serves as a symbol of absolute innocence
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of innocence
And Bowen has a masterful ability to give us both Portia’s innocence and a sense of how people who grow up without their parents don’t know how to grow into their emotions.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
At issue was whether Reed waited too long to file a lawsuit arguing that untested crime scene evidence could prove his innocence.
—Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
And people who hadn’t yet had much exposure to it kept their innocence.
—Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Aidan’s lawyer has denied wrongdoing and called for respect for the presumption of innocence.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocence
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
At issue was whether Reed waited too long to file a lawsuit arguing that untested crime scene evidence could prove his innocence.
—Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
And people who hadn’t yet had much exposure to it kept their innocence.
—Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Aidan’s lawyer has denied wrongdoing and called for respect for the presumption of innocence.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocence
Noun
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The slightly distressed finish of brown sneakers adds naturalness and ease that pairs harmoniously with the low profile of baggy jeans.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
8 Mar. 2026
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In 1995, Taschen published his first book, which made a stir with portraits of soft, indirect illumination, emphasizing naturalness.—
Steve Appleford,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And both reckon with the extent to which historical ignorance and the calculated distortion of the past threaten the foundation on which our country was built.—
Francine Prose,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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That denial of reality — rooted in ignorance and contempt for science — is now official policy, as evidenced by the EPA’s rescinding of its landmark finding that greenhouse gases harm public health.—
James Speyer,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Attempts to resolve ecological responsibility through strict localism often risk sliding into cultural provincialism or nationalist enclosure—fantasies of purity that ignore how deeply entangled our lives already are.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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In fact, according to the real meaning behind Easter colors, the color white symbolizes purity, grace, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the culmination of the Easter season.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Japanese pickling methods, such as nukazuke (fermentation in rice bran), emphasized minimalism and balance, reflecting the cultural values of harmony and simplicity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
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The beauty of cafe curtains lies in their simplicity.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Good Friday is a day to recognize the brutality of the Roman practice of crucifying criminals and to reflect with sincerity on the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for the world.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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And Sonny’s sincerity is, in its way, the central engine of the action.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Innocence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocence. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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