innocently

adverb

1
as in sincerely
without any attempt to impress by deception or exaggeration "You look nice," she commented innocently

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chastely
with purity of thought and deed very young children approach the world so innocently

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of innocently His ideas align with Hinton’s, and by 2013 the two of them—along with a third partner, Fedor Fedotov’s Alex Krizhevsky—find themselves at Google, innocently pursuing their research. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 The scoring started innocently enough, Stockton marching the team 79 yards on an 11-play workmanlike touchdown drive. — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026 Widowed and nearing 60, Tony enjoys a quiet but contented routine, suddenly injected with anxiety when, during the school day, one of his young pupils innocently notes that his right hand looks frozen. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026 Homer, of course, is perhaps the most lovable dimwit ever created, and his dynamic with Bart — the quick-to-anger suburban dad, the innocently mischievous adolescent son — is pure Americana. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026 The Network Started With A Missing File The origins of the incident started innocently. — Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Their amalgamation with the other color produces a degradation to which no lover of his country, no lover of excellence in the human character can innocently consent. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 It was innocently posted by motorsports reporter Cole Cusumano, who was there covering the race. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 The deciding goal started innocently enough on a Marcel Sabitzer corner kick, albeit after the World Cup’s still-odd hydration breaks. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocently
  1. sincerely
  2. chastely
  3. openly
  4. purely
  5. genuinely
  6. properly
  7. naively
  8. morally
Adverb
  • Perhaps the script is unduly tilted by Ramos’ drawling, sincerely beguiling delivery.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
  • And incumbents can sincerely believe important work remains unfinished.
    — Nancy Forster-Holt, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of sincerely
Adverb
  • The solution is a lot of morphine and a lot of rest, both of which Cathy undertakes with Adam constantly (and chastely) by her side.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Take The Music Lesson, a study of a young woman playing the virginal, closely watched by a gentleman, which Graham-Dixon reads as a depiction of Collegiants chastely performing and singing psalms.
    — Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Definition of chastely
Adverb
  • These provisions keep employers and plan sponsors from openly discussing their contract terms, which Cuban said blocks them from comparing fees and negotiating better deals.
    — Emma Witman, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Worse, while communist parties during the Cold War denied the crimes of the Soviet regime, some of today’s neo-Leninists openly defend them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of openly
Adverb
  • Surprises happen when a film is cast purely from people DeFalco finds interesting.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Ian, my character, is not entirely good, and Henry, the ostensibly villainous character played by Brendan Cowell, is not purely dark either.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of purely
Adverb
  • Tonight’s Venus cazimi could clarify which connections or future plans still genuinely excite you.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The horror and tension in the film’s set pieces are genuinely effective.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of genuinely
Adverb
  • This visual communication is very useful during simulated space missions on land, too, especially in situations when our communications technologies have not worked properly.
    — Michaela Musilova, Space.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • When pension shortfalls, other post-employment benefits and deferred maintenance are properly counted, the true financial condition of Maryland and its local governments is far weaker than the official budget statements claim.
    — Judi Willard, Baltimore Sun, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of properly
Adverb
  • Besides, Carmella doesn’t even know about this, Shannon naively says, so no harm, no foul.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • A lot of us naively assumed that demand would keep growing forever.
    — Brandon Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of naively
Adverb
  • Then there were those that seemed excessive or even morally questionable.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The royal banquet is supposed to be a celebration of Macbeth’s power, but the presence of the morally upright ghost spoils everything!
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of morally

Browse Nearby Words

innocent
innocently
innocents
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Cite this Entry

“Innocently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocently. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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