Innoxious
What it means
Not harmful, offensive, or poisonous.
Reach for it when choosing a rare formal term for something shown to be harmless
The conservator selected an innoxious paste that could be removed with water.
Words to choose between 5
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
|
-
everyday
Fits when plain absence of likely harm is the main claim
Careful Harmless can still be too absolute when exposure or dose changes the risk.
-
everyday
Fits when the concern is avoiding offense or unpleasantness
Careful Inoffensive says little about physical safety or toxicity.
-
professional
Fits when something is unlikely to cause harm or offense
Careful Innocuous is more familiar and can also imply blandness.
-
professional
Fits when toxicity under stated conditions is specifically absent
Careful Nontoxic does not cover mechanical, allergic, or environmental harm.
-
formal
Fits when a condition or influence is not dangerous in the relevant context
Careful Benign is clinical and may not suit a household material.
Opposites 3
- noxious
- harmful
- toxic
Common phrases 3
-
innoxious substance
The label described the diluted mixture as an innoxious substance under normal use.
-
appear innoxious
A plant may appear innoxious while still causing contact irritation.
-
largely innoxious
The residue was largely innoxious at the measured concentration.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Innoxious is rare, and harmlessness depends on dose, route, population, and conditions. A specific safety finding is usually clearer.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated