1
as in innocency
the quality or state of being free from guilt or blame
the accused embezzler eventually proved her innocence and was released
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2
as in naturalness
the quality or state of being simple and sincere
the innocence of the child's question touched everyone present
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3
as in ignorance
the state of being unaware or uninformed
in my innocence I just assumed that quoted rate was for a week's stay and not for a single night at the health spa
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4
as in purity
the quality or state of being morally pure
in Melville's novel, the sailor Billy Budd serves as a symbol of absolute innocence
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Recent Examples of innocence
David, who has maintained his innocence, was acquitted at trial earlier this year of the most serious charges — first- and second-degree murder.
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Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2024
After a decade of exchanging letters and examining the trial record, Jim McCloskey, the head of the group, visited Spencer and became convinced of his innocence.
—Terry W., The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Oct. 2024
But the story really gains momentum when a defense attorney named Diana Holt, whom Bonner profiled for The Atlantic in 2012, becomes convinced of Elmore’s innocence and decides to fight to win him a new trial.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2024
Combs has been incarcerated in the Special Housing Unit at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his arraignment and has maintained his innocence amid mounting civil lawsuits over the past year.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for innocence 
Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 2 Nov. 2024
After a decade of exchanging letters and examining the trial record, Jim McCloskey, the head of the group, visited Spencer and became convinced of his innocence.
—Terry W., The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Oct. 2024
But the story really gains momentum when a defense attorney named Diana Holt, whom Bonner profiled for The Atlantic in 2012, becomes convinced of Elmore’s innocence and decides to fight to win him a new trial.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2024
Combs has been incarcerated in the Special Housing Unit at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his arraignment and has maintained his innocence amid mounting civil lawsuits over the past year.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for innocence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for innocence
Noun
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What’s the difference between ignorance and apathy?Fiona Tapp, Parents, 5 Nov. 2024
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Because so many celebrities presume to lecture us on behavior and politics, the game’s display of ignorance on both the professional and civilian side is stunning.Armond White, National Review, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Branding became essential to the differentiation that would earn the easy recognition and loyalty of customers, though labels about the purity of contents or lack thereof didn’t matter in this former landscape.Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
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Many companies state that their products are 99% pure, but an independent investigation of three companies’ products from August 2023 to March 2024 found that the purity of the products were far less than promised.C. Michael White / The Conversation, Quartz, 21 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The production’s simplicity ditched the cliches that have accumulated around the play over decades.Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
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Raines believes that simplicity also applies to his politics.Terry Collins, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Next, Dwight and his hulking bodyguard, Bigfoot, show up at Thresher’s weed farm itself, slinging accusations, which Thresher denies with apparent sincerity.Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2024
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Generously candid, his humor is rivaled only by his sincerity.Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near innocence
Cite this Entry
“Innocence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/innocence. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
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