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
The actual criterion, however, has tended to be a sort of weak-willed, inoffensive obsequiousness, such that all the countries on the Security Council will approve of you—and can use you as a scapegoat whenever necessary.
—
Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
At night, be warned that a red light district — largely inoffensive (depending in your POV) but real — sits behind the hotel and envelops a Thai boxing ring.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Once inside the body, the silk fibroin is inoffensive.
—Amy Paturel, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
Accelerator Photograph: Amazon Accelerator, Peach Paradise (12-Pack) $27 at Amazon
Accelerator is an inoffensive and unassuming option for folks who don’t like brand names or flashy cans.
—Pete Cottell, WIRED, 8 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoffensive
Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
At night, be warned that a red light district — largely inoffensive (depending in your POV) but real — sits behind the hotel and envelops a Thai boxing ring.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Once inside the body, the silk fibroin is inoffensive.
—Amy Paturel, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025
Accelerator Photograph: Amazon Accelerator, Peach Paradise (12-Pack) $27 at Amazon
Accelerator is an inoffensive and unassuming option for folks who don’t like brand names or flashy cans.
—Pete Cottell, WIRED, 8 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inoffensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoffensive
Adjective
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The grunting, the couple now know, was not harmless.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
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For most people, drinking a concoction of OJ, coconut water and pink salt is pretty darn harmless and could even be beneficial.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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In the first half of 2025, inflation data has been largely benign, but the worst may be yet to come: Goldman Sachs economists predict core PCE inflation will surge to 3.4% by December, which would be the highest rate since 2023.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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Finland has been a benign competitor since its 2005 semifinal stunner.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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The company carried out launch and landing tests last year, with one of the hops reaching around 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) in altitude before executing a powered descent and safe landing.—
Andrew Jones,
Space.com,
12 July 2025
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The linen cotton blend isn’t see-through and is safe to machine wash on a gentle cycle and even tumble dry on low afterward.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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But the alternative is much worse: a world where the loss of innocent life is treated as inescapable, where no calamity can be prevented or bad situation reformed.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
14 July 2025
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Comprehensive cell phone analysis can be just as powerful in clearing innocent drivers by proving no user interaction occurred.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inoffensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoffensive. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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