innocuous

/i'nɔkjuəs/

Thân thiện

The child made an innocuous comment about the weather.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not harmful or offensive: Describes something that causes no injury, damage, or adverse reaction. It often implies being inoffensive, safe, or dull.
   • Not likely to provoke strong feelings or criticism: Describes remarks, behavior, or generalities that are bland, unobjectionable, and unlikely to cause disapproval or controversy.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The spider looked scary but was completely innocuous.
  • He made an innocuous comment about the weather to avoid an argument.
  • The substance was tested and found to be innocuous to human health.

Advanced Usage

• "Seemingly innocuous": Used to describe something that appears harmless but may have hidden significance or consequences.
  • A seemingly innocuous email turned out to be a phishing attempt.
• Used in formal or technical contexts: Commonly used in scientific, medical, or diplomatic language to describe something that poses no threat.
  • The chemical is innocuous when handled properly.

Variants and Related Words

• Innocuously (adverb): In a harmless or inoffensive manner.
  • The conversation began innocuously enough.
• Innocuousness (noun): The quality or state of being harmless.
  • The innocuousness of the material was confirmed by lab tests.

Synonyms

• Harmless: Not able or likely to cause harm.
• Inoffensive: Not causing annoyance, displeasure, or resentment.
• Safe: Unlikely to cause or lead to harm or injury.
• Bland: Lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting; often used for remarks or writing.

Antonyms

• Harmful: Causing or likely to cause harm.
• Noxious: Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.
• Offensive: Causing someone to feel resentful, upset, or annoyed.
• Damaging: Causing physical or other harm.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Innocuous as a dove": A simile (though not a common idiom) emphasizing extreme harmlessness. It is a creative comparison, not a standard phrase.
  • His public persona was as innocuous as a dove.
• Often used in the phrase "perfectly innocuous": To emphasize that something is completely harmless.
  • The question was perfectly innocuous, so her angry reaction was surprising.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. lacking intent or capacity to injure
   • an innocent prank
2. not causing disapproval
   • it was an innocuous remark
   • confined himself to innocuous generalities
   • unobjectionable behavior
3. not injurious to physical or mental health

Từ đồng nghĩa

• innocent
• unobjectionable