Word: innocuous (adjective)

Associations

The word "innocuous" means something that is not harmful or offensive. It is often used to describe things, actions, or comments that are safe, gentle, or unlikely to cause any trouble or damage.

• Example 1: "The question was innocuous, so nobody got upset." Here, the question is harmless and not offensive.
• Example 2: "The snake looked dangerous, but it was actually innocuous." This means the snake is not harmful.
• Example 3: "She made an innocuous joke that everyone laughed at." The joke was mild and not hurtful.

Synonym: "harmless" is a common synonym. The difference is that "innocuous" often suggests something is not only harmless but also unlikely to offend or cause any negative reaction, while "harmless" focuses mainly on the safety aspect.

Substitution

You can replace "innocuous" with words like:

• harmless (focuses on safety)
• safe (more general, can be about physical or emotional safety)
• mild (suggests gentle or not strong) Changing the word might slightly change the meaning. For example, "mild" can refer to taste or weather, not just safety.

Deconstruction

The word "innocuous" comes from Latin:

• Prefix "in-" means "not"
• Root "nocuus" means "harmful" (from Latin "nocere" = to harm) So "innocuous" literally means "not harmful."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where you might describe something as innocuous?
• How would you feel if someone said your words were innocuous?
• Can a thing be harmless but still not innocuous? Why or why not?