different between innocuous vs unoffending

English

Etymology

From Latin innocuus (“harmless”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??n?kju?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??n?kju?s/
• Hyphenation: in?noc?u?ous

Adjective

innocuous (comparative more innocuous, superlative most innocuous)

1. Harmless; producing no ill effect.
   • 1892, Robert Louis Stevenson, A Footnote to History, ch. 9:

     The shells fell for the most part innocuous; an eyewitness saw children at play beside the flaming houses; not a soul was injured.
2. Inoffensive; unprovocative; not exceptional.
   • 1893, Gilbert Parker, chapter 12, in Mrs. Falchion:

     Ruth Devlin announced that the song must wait, though it appeared to be innocuous and child-like in its sentiments.

   • 1910, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 29, in The Intrusion of Jimmy:

     He sat down, and lighted a cigarette, casting about the while for an innocuous topic of conversation.

Synonyms

• (harmless, without ill effect): innoxious, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, undamaging, unharmful, harmless
• (inoffensive): uncontroversial

Antonyms

• nocuous
• noxious
• harmful
• poisonous
• toxic

Derived terms

• innocuity
• innocuously
• innocuousness

Related terms

• innocent

Translations

English

Etymology

un- +? offending

Adjective

unoffending (comparative more unoffending, superlative most unoffending)

1. Not offending.