innocuous — not harmful or offensive; harmless and unlikely to provoke a strong reaction
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: not harmful or offensive; harmless and unlikely to provoke a strong reaction
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈnɑːkjuəs/
Example Sentences
- His innocuous joke about coffee somehow started a two-hour debate about capitalism.
- The plant looks innocuous, but it's actually quite poisonous.
- She thought her innocuous cat video would get 10 likes, not 10 million.
innocuous
ADJECTIVE[/ɪˈnɑːkjuəs/]
not harmful or offensive; harmless and unlikely to provoke a strong reaction
The spider looked scary but was completely innocuous.
Beneath conspicuous deciduous leaves, an innocuous flower blooms.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'innocuus', derived from 'in-' (not) + 'nocuus' (harmful), which comes from 'nocere' (to harm). The word entered English in the 16th century.
Breakdown
in- (not) + nocuous (harmful, from Latin nocere 'to harm') = innocuous (not harmful)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“His innocuous joke about coffee somehow started a two-hour debate about capitalism.”
“The plant looks innocuous, but it's actually quite poisonous.”
“She thought her innocuous cat video would get 10 likes, not 10 million.”
“The new policy seems innocuous but could have far-reaching consequences.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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