inoffensive

  • 1Inoffensive — In of*fen sive, a. [Pref. in not + offensiue: cf. F. inoffensif.] 1. Giving no offense, or provocation; causing no uneasiness, annoyance, or disturbance; as, an inoffensive man, answer, appearance. [1913 Webster] 2. Harmless; doing no injury or… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2inoffensive — index blameless, harmless, innocuous, irreprehensible, nontoxic, pardonable, peaceable, unobjectionable …

    Law dictionary

  • 3inoffensive — 1590s, from IN (Cf. in ) (1) not, opposite of + OFFENSIVE (Cf. offensive). Related: Inoffensively; inoffensiveness …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4inoffensive — *harmless, innocuous, innocent, unoffending Antonyms: offensive Contrasted words: loathsome, repulsive, revolting (see OFFENSIVE): distasteful, obnoxious, repellent, *repugnant …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5inoffensive — [adj] not obnoxious; harmless calm, clean, friendly, humble, innocent, innocuous, innoxious, mild, neutral, nonprovocative, peaceable, pleasant, quiet, retiring, safe, unobjectionable, unobtrusive, unoffending; concepts 267,542 Ant. damaging,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 6inoffensive — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ not objectionable or harmful. DERIVATIVES inoffensively adverb inoffensiveness noun …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7inoffensive — [in΄ə fen′siv] adj. not offensive; not objectionable; causing no harm, discomfort, or annoyance inoffensively adv. inoffensiveness n …

    English World dictionary

  • 8inoffensive — ● inoffensif, inoffensive adjectif Qui n attaque pas l homme, qui n est pas dangereux : Un animal inoffensif. Qui n est pas agressif : Un malade mental inoffensif. Qui est incapable de répondre à une attaque, qui manque de caractère : Un être… …

    Encyclopédie Universelle

  • 9inoffensive — [[t]ɪ̱nəfe̱nsɪv[/t]] ADJ GRADED If you describe someone or something as inoffensive, you mean that they are not unpleasant or unacceptable in any way, but are perhaps rather dull. He s a mild inoffensive man... It s a very nice song. Catchy, and… …

    English dictionary

  • 10inoffensive — inoffensively, adv. inoffensiveness, n. /in euh fen siv/, adj. 1. causing no harm, trouble, or annoyance: a mild, inoffensive man. 2. not objectionable, as to the senses: an inoffensive odor. [1590 1600; IN 3 + OFFENSIVE] Syn. 1. harmless,… …

    Universalium