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
The photo pushes David—who has maintained his innocence all along—to escape from prison with the help of Philip Mackenzie (Peter Outerbridge), the prison warden and a longtime friend of his father who believes him, and Mackenzie’s son Adam (Jonathan Tucker), a police sargeant.
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Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
18 June 2026
Jessie asks, with the innocence of someone first unboxed by a boomer.
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Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Respecting the presumption of innocence is a fundamental value at Villarreal.
—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
The younger Andic has denied wrongdoing, and the family has maintained his innocence.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocence
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
18 June 2026
Jessie asks, with the innocence of someone first unboxed by a boomer.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Respecting the presumption of innocence is a fundamental value at Villarreal.
—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
The younger Andic has denied wrongdoing, and the family has maintained his innocence.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for innocence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocence
Noun
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Law enforcement later searched two locations in connection with the investigation into Hidrogo including a storage facility in Fort Worth where officers found 244 kilograms of meth with a purity level of 100 percent and more firearms.
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In Christianity, doves are associated with the Holy Spirit and symbolize purity and faith.
Noun
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As a national icon, the Natural Bridge served as a quiet, Emersonian rebuke to Europe’s militaristic triumphal arches, reinforcing the naturalness of American democracy.
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That ease and naturalness are paramount to Copeland.
Noun
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The once-vaunted values of public life are now reduced to the lower standards of private life—venality, vulgarity, rudeness, incontinence, and ignorance.
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Not the innocence of ignorance.
Noun
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Write with simplicity and heart.
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That distinction is important because the company sees simplicity as one of its greatest strengths.
Noun
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But in her concentration, Porsha fumbled her words, which made the Faithfuls, who were desperate for a crumb of evidence so early in the game, suspicious of her sincerity.
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Several participants told The Washington Post that they were impressed with the sincerity and humility of the AI firm’s staff in discussing both ethical and spiritual implications.
Cite this Entry
“Innocence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocence. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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