MEANING
Not harmful or offensive, though something apparently innocuous may conceal a more troubling purpose.
Use it for
Use for something that appears harmless or causes no offense.Build tension by making an ordinary object or question seem suspicious.
Words that belong together
- innocuous remark
- seemingly innocuous
- innocuous question
On the page
The innocuous question about the spare key made the tenant glance toward the door.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- innocuous
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Usage notes
Often means harmless on the surface; context may imply that something seemingly innocuous has hidden significance.
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