as in harmless
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
an inoffensive little joke at the opening of his speech
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Recent Examples of inoffensive
After opening night, Hart criticizes the show for being inoffensive and having too happy of an ending.
—
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
What to do instead: Make the task itself more pleasant or at least inoffensive.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 31 Jan. 2025
Review: As Golden Globes host, Nikki Glaser delivered a good time at Hollywood’s party night: Despite a long ceremony chock full of awards, emcee Nikki Glaser kept the show moving along with lightly cutting and relatively inoffensive jokes.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The writing in general felt designed by committee to be as inoffensive and unoriginal as possible.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoffensive
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
What to do instead: Make the task itself more pleasant or at least inoffensive.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 31 Jan. 2025
Review: As Golden Globes host, Nikki Glaser delivered a good time at Hollywood’s party night: Despite a long ceremony chock full of awards, emcee Nikki Glaser kept the show moving along with lightly cutting and relatively inoffensive jokes.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The writing in general felt designed by committee to be as inoffensive and unoriginal as possible.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inoffensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoffensive
Adjective
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The Northern Lights in Mexico that trended on social media were technically harmless — but if an even more powerful storm strikes, pictures of the mesmerizing aurora may struggle to make it to the internet.—
Tom Brown,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Compared to other insects, most ants are harmless, Hayes said, adding that, unlike mosquitoes, ants do not carry diseases that can infect humans.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Such defenses include profiling victims before an attack is mounted, and can even provide an escape path to a benign alternative to prevent the threat being flagged.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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In total, 11 members of the fifth-floor maternity unit at Mass General’s Newton-Wellesley Hospital have reported suffering from health issues, including the nurses diagnosed with the benign tumors.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Until there is, the safest approach may be not to share at all.—
Abigail Dubiniecki,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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So Far Cannes' Thierry Fremaux Wants 'Mission: Impossible 8,' Teases 2025 Fest Lineup and Moves on From the 'Emilia Perez' Controversy (EXCLUSIVE) That safe haven could also be an alternative to the normal escape route people take out of Gilead.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That innocent people are disappearing into El Salvador’s prisons is no secret—making the embrace of Bukele a disturbing signal of just how far a strongman can go without losing political ground.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
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His innocent questions were always softened by stoner jokes.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inoffensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoffensive. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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