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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unaffected
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
an innocent offer to sing before the gathering
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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
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5
as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
good-natured teasing that is just innocent fun
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6
as in ignorant
not informed about or aware of something
a woman who seems entirely innocent of good manners and common courtesy
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as in angel
an innocent or gentle person
an innocent who is often puzzled by and prey to the evils of the world
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of innocent
Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
We sociologists infamously inculcate our innocent students with communistic ideals.
—Wendy Nelson Espeland, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Her version of the middle-aged matron was a gentle innocent who faced the world with an unself-conscious enthusiasm.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for innocent
Adjective
The suspects crashed into other innocent drivers.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
We sociologists infamously inculcate our innocent students with communistic ideals.
—Wendy Nelson Espeland, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
Her investigation considers the history of several doomed innocents, beginning with Lana Clarkson, a B-movie queen who was brutally murdered and subsequently conscripted to the annals of true crime.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Her version of the middle-aged matron was a gentle innocent who faced the world with an unself-conscious enthusiasm.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for innocent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocent
Adjective
-
Otherwise, the tone of the show is pure cosmopolitan sympathy.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
That’s why Baumler’s pure stuff will only get him as far as his ability to command it against big league hitters.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In an email to employees, Chairman of the Board Michael Wichterich said Expand Energy's move to Houston will be completed by mid-2026 but promised the Oklahoma City workforce will be unaffected by the relocation.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Lids are generally more durable and can be reused multiple times, while parchment paper can only be reused a few times if its quality remains unaffected.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Critics say Starmer was, at best, naive in not recognizing the risks involved.—
JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
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Critics say Mandelson’s ties with Epstein made his appointment too risky and Starmer was, at best, naive.—
Jill Lawless,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These were not harmless prompts.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The appellate court found that the prosecution failed to meet its burden to demonstrate, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the constitutional error was harmless.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Walz said children fear aggressive agents; critics called the comparison ignorant and offensive.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
One of Johnson’s former Cowboys superstars, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, called voters who ignored Belichick ignorant.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
FirstMark Capital led the round and was joined by GV, Spark Capital, Homebrew, and angel investors.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Even the Tampere Cathedral is a Modernist provocation, with a treatment of the Resurrection by Finnish symbolist Magnus Enckell; a serpent painted into the ceiling; and another painting that depicts death as a kind of caring angel.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And how many guiltless prisoners there are here!—
Alexei Navalny,
The New Yorker,
11 Oct. 2024
-
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
Adjective
-
The files have created some genuine issues for news organizations, whose ranks are filled with individuals with whom Epstein hoped to forge personal connections.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Both players had fists full of each other’s shirts, but the referee pointed to the spot and deemed Akpoguma not to have made a genuine attempt for the ball.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Innocent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocent. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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