Innocuous
/ɪˈnɑːkjuəs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Innocuous describes things that are safe and do not hurt or upset anyone. It can refer to words, actions, objects, or ideas that are mild and cause no damage or strong feelings. It is often used when something might seem like it could be harmful but actually is not.
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See It in Action
Not harmful physically or medically
- •The spider is innocuous and will not bite humans.
- •This medicine is innocuous and has no bad side effects.
- •The plant looks strange but is completely innocuous.
Not offensive or likely to cause upset
- •His comment was innocuous and did not hurt anyone’s feelings.
- •The question was innocuous, just a simple curiosity.
- •She made an innocuous joke that everyone laughed at.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "innocuous" like "safe" (A1 word), but used for things that do not cause harm physically or emotionally
- ✓Picture a small kitten playing gently—nothing dangerous or scary about it
- ✓It's the feeling when someone says a joke that is kind and does not offend anyone
- ✓Sounds like "in-NO-cue-us" → imagine a "cue" in a play that is so small and quiet it does no harm or bother anyone
- ✓Remember a harmless plant or a mild medicine that does not cause side effects—these are innocuous
- ✓NOT like "dangerous" (can hurt or cause problems), "innocuous" means completely safe or harmless
- ✓NOT like "offensive" (makes people upset), "innocuous" means it does not bother or upset anyone
- ✓NOT like "boring" (no interest), "innocuous" means harmless, but it can still be interesting or important
Try Other Words
- •Harmless: not able to cause harm (Use when focusing on physical or emotional safety)
- •Safe: protected from danger (Use when emphasizing protection or security)
- •Inoffensive: not likely to upset or offend (Use when focusing on feelings or social situations)
- •Mild: gentle and not strong (Use when describing something soft or weak in effect)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "in-" (not) + root "nocuous" (from Latin "nocuus" meaning harmful or hurtful)
- •Etymology: From Latin "innocuus," meaning harmless or not hurtful
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1600s to describe things that cause no harm or injury
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe harmless substances, words, actions, or situations that do not cause damage or offense
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be innocuous to one person but harmful or offensive to another? Why or why not?
•How does knowing something is innocuous change the way you feel about it or react to it?
Fill in the blanks
1.The doctor said the medicine was innocuous and would ___ any side effects.
2.His comment was innocuous, so it did not ___ anyone’s feelings.
3.Although the snake looked scary, it was actually innocuous and ___ harm.
4.She made an innocuous joke ___ everyone laughed without offense.
5.The substance is innocuous, meaning it is ___ dangerous or harmful.
6.When something is innocuous, people usually ___ worried about it.
7.The question was innocuous, showing simple ___ rather than criticism.