1
as in sincerely
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration
"You look nice," she commented innocently
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chastely
with purity of thought and deed
very young children approach the world so innocently
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of innocently
The mistake begins innocently enough.
—
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
The story starts innocently enough.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
What began as innocently wagering ten or twenty bucks on games escalated to putting $5,000 on long-shot parlays, day after day.
—Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Mainstream media didn’t care about Brown and Black youth above Central Park innocently losing their lives.
—Essence, 11 Dec. 2025
But why didn’t the scholarship go to any of the students at that school, Alberta Dome innocently wonders?
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2025
Participating gas stations innocently suggest using points to lower your out-of-pocket cost at the pump.
—Sarah Hostetler, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
His friend had innocently landed on that scene.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
In a thriller, the suspense is built around a challenge posed to the protagonist — the last big score before retiring, being innocently accused of a crime or accidentally getting involved in something dangerous and deadly.
—Anders De La Motte, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
The story starts innocently enough.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
What began as innocently wagering ten or twenty bucks on games escalated to putting $5,000 on long-shot parlays, day after day.
—Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Mainstream media didn’t care about Brown and Black youth above Central Park innocently losing their lives.
—Essence, 11 Dec. 2025
But why didn’t the scholarship go to any of the students at that school, Alberta Dome innocently wonders?
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2025
Participating gas stations innocently suggest using points to lower your out-of-pocket cost at the pump.
—Sarah Hostetler, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
His friend had innocently landed on that scene.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
In a thriller, the suspense is built around a challenge posed to the protagonist — the last big score before retiring, being innocently accused of a crime or accidentally getting involved in something dangerous and deadly.
—Anders De La Motte, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocently
Adverb
-
Dozens of Bay Area mayors, councilmembers and officials signed an open letter calling for Martinez to either sincerely work to repair his relationship with the Jewish community or resign.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Taking a closer look at the societal environments that overshadow low-income communities must be in the equation when sincerely working to stop child abuse.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The opportunity wasn’t lost on Shula, the rock-solid legend who sat afterward at his locker, openly crying, in a manner that stunned Dolphins personnel.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Online, conservatives have threatened to boycott the Super Bowl and the NFL more broadly, with influential voices like Newsmax host Greg Kelly and Tomi Lahren openly criticizing the league for choosing Bad Bunny as the performer.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
This decision from the Virginia court, although made on purely procedural grounds, is likely to increase anxiety among some Maryland legislators who are nervous about adopting their own new map, which is designed to create one additional seat controlled by Democratic voters.—
Sherrilyn Ifill,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The Pentagon had established a network of 24 satellites purely for defense purposes.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Schlossberg, by virtue of his attention-grabbing lineage and Pelosi’s endorsement, now has a giant advantage over a long list of genuinely accomplished rivals.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
-
There are new lockers assigned, a few non-roster invitees trying to play their way into a pension plan, and some genuinely impressive talent on the depth chart.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The hack works best if duvets are secured properly or layered separately to prevent shifting.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Authorities are investigating whether the device did or did not work properly.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The barely disguised soullessness with which AI leaders operate, perhaps, has provided a window for entrepreneurs to peddle a more humane message, in good faith or not in good faith, naively or cynically.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
22 Jan. 2026
-
To believe otherwise is to divert one’s gaze, naively, hoping others will manage the problem, keeping it from your doorstep — in defiance of the medicine and simple math.—
Eric Snoey,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
That same language is now treated as politically dangerous rather than morally clarifying.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The task now — clinically, scientifically, and morally — is to ensure that the extra time gained does not resemble the fate of Tithonus.—
Gilberto Lopes,
STAT,
12 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The glorious sweep of progress toward Roman civilization and prosperity means the end of an idyllic, virtuously rustic Golden Age.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Innocently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocently. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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