innocent 1 of 2

adjective

ˈi-nə-sənt How to pronounce innocent (audio)
Definition of innocentnext
1
as in pure
free from sin an innocent baby

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2
as in acquitted
free from guilt or blame the robbery suspect was eventually found to be innocent

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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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innocent

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of innocent
Adjective
Yet her 1893 trial, which was breathlessly covered by newspapers around the globe, found her innocent. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 Jackass is for the 12-year-old boy within us all, one that’s a little bit rowdy and a little bit restless and a little bit destructive, but still sort of innocent about it all. — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
Will the world defend and support the innocents, or will people turn their backs, or, worse yet, accuse the victims of being the criminals? — Diane Gensler, Baltimore Sun, 19 May 2026 And quite frankly, that calculus essentially admits that innocents are going to be hurt, but that is a price to pay. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for innocent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocent
  1. pure
  2. guiltless
  3. unaffected
  4. naive
  5. harmless
  6. ignorant
  7. angel
  8. blameless
Adjective
  • The interactions between Bourdain and Ciro are pure movie magic and that’s due partly to the performances — both actors have to be in the Oscar race — as well as to the screenplay by Johnson, Todd Bartels, Lou Howe and Matthew Miller.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Unauthorized sequels reveal the extremes of why people make movies in the first place, from purely cynical money grabs to pure — even naive — devotion to characters and their world.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of pure
Adjective
  • In any year, in any culture, there are no antagonists (save for Nazis) better suited as action cinema heavies; rooting against child trafficking lowlifes is moral, easy, and best of all, a completely guiltless pleasure.
    — Andy Crump, IndieWire, 15 June 2026
  • Chick lit was flippant and fizzy and fun, above all, as effervescent and guiltless as a vodka soda.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 4 May 2026
Definition of guiltless
Adjective
  • Yet Webb, seemingly unaffected, keeps taking the mound and giving the Giants a chance.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Neutrinos are notoriously unaffected by normal matter—most pass right through it.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of unaffected
Adjective
  • Unauthorized sequels reveal the extremes of why people make movies in the first place, from purely cynical money grabs to pure — even naive — devotion to characters and their world.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In just a few short weeks, his childish, naive world becomes brutally adult.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • These are harmless plant relatives consisting of an algae and fungus growing together.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
  • By contrast, another participant recalled disagreeing with a friend who believed drinking soda and eating fast food was harmless, a belief the participant considered factually wrong.
    — Andras Molnar, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmless
Adjective
  • Howard Bryant's comparison this week between Cunningham's comments and Colin Kaepernick's protests was both ignorant and desperate.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Only those stubbornly ignorant to the human cost of actual combat would be psyched to bring on more of it.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignorant
Noun
  • Shannon basically complains so much that Jenn, a sweet baby angel straight from a Hallmark Christmas movie, offers to change rooms with her.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The angels, with the use of their wings, opened a rent in my eyelids.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of angel
Adjective
  • Historically of course, unlike the Solomon Islands, France is not blameless here, with coal having powered its industrial revolution dating back to the 1800s, and the shift to clean energy being much recent.
    — Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Years after Leontes, a king contorted by jealousy, has ordered that his wife, the blameless Hermione, be put to death, a curtain is drawn back to reveal what appears to be a statue of her.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of blameless

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innocency
innocent
innocently
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Cite this Entry

“Innocent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocent. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on innocent

Nglish: Translation of innocent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about innocent

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