innocuous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Unexplained absences can be an early sign of political trouble in China, though officials are known to have missed engagements for innocuous reasons such as illness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026

He looked at me with his sad baby blues and shared how he told these innocuous falsities, ultimately, out of deep-seeded self-hatred.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

It seemed innocuous enough, with a running total of revenues from a couple of seasons in the 1970s.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

The research suggests, therefore, layoffs might have been driven by more disturbing factors rather than the innocuous justifications proffered by chief executives.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 16, 2025

The caustic laxative worked so well that Hawley marketed it commercially under the disarmingly innocuous name Slim Jim.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand