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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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
Timothy Busfield allegations The actor, who is accused of inappropriate physical contact with two child actors, has maintained his innocence and argued that the allegations are an act of retaliation after the boys were recast on the show.
—
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Mearan consistently maintained his innocence.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Feb. 2026
The collection evokes the aesthetic innocence and whimsy of the French luxury jewelry company.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Green claimed innocence, but his pleas were for many years left unheard.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocence
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Mearan consistently maintained his innocence.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Feb. 2026
The collection evokes the aesthetic innocence and whimsy of the French luxury jewelry company.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 4 Feb. 2026
Green claimed innocence, but his pleas were for many years left unheard.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocence
Noun
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The filmmakers on Saturday also discussed working with children on set, with both lauding young people’s naturalness and authenticity.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
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The Windsor family often shares moments during this time of year that reflect their warmth and naturalness.—
María Munsuri,
Glamour,
25 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Inversely, having been friends with Epstein before his conviction is no proof of ignorance.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
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All the knowledge—or ignorance—that a viewer brings to a movie, whatever knowledge a viewer gains about the making and the makers, is an inextricable part of the viewing experience.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But getting hung up on the purity of beginning from the beginning is more likely to be a stumbling block than a source of pleasure.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
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Before the war, Iran had been enriching uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels.—
Farnoush Amiri,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But as a walk down Main Street will prove to you, its simplicity is exactly what makes the town special.—
Megan Margulies,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
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By prioritizing safety, simplicity, and developer collaboration, Sprout represents a quieter but potentially more meaningful step forward in humanoid robotics.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Part of what makes it such an uneasy sit is its sincerity.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2026
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Kitsune distrusts systems and sincerity equally.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Innocence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocence. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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