innocent
Free from wrongdoing
Innocent means free from guilt or wrongdoing: The jury found him innocent.
It also describes someone lacking experience with evil or corruption—a child's innocent trust, an innocent question asked without ulterior motive.
By extension, innocent can mean naive or unsophisticated: She was innocent of the ways of Wall Street.
An innocent bystander is uninvolved and undeserving of harm.
The noun innocent refers to such a person, especially a child or victim: The bombing killed dozens of innocents.
Unsullied or inexperienced
- chasteAbstaining from sexual activity
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- untouchedNot contacted or affected
- maidenUnmarried young woman
modest · uncorrupted · unsullied · undefiled · immaculate · pristine · wholesome · unblemished
Not at fault
- exoneratedCleared of wrongdoing
- acquittedDeclared legally innocent
- clearedFound not guilty
- absolvedFreed from guilt
vindicated · faultless · irreproachable · unimpeachable · uninvolved · not guilty · clean-handed · above suspicion
Showing naive amazement
- playfulInclined toward fun
- curiousEager to learn
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
- pure-heartedSincerely good-natured
trusting · guileless · unspoiled · carefree · lighthearted · wholesome · angelic · cherubic
Easily deceived
- credulousProne to blind trust
- unsuspectingNot anticipating danger
- ingenuousInnocently frank and trusting
- trustingInclined to believe others
unworldly · inexperienced · green · impressionable · unsophisticated · simple · artless · guileless
Free from deception
- genuineTruly what it claims
- candidHonest and direct
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
- heartfeltDeeply and sincerely meant
truthful · earnest · transparent · frank · open · unfeigned · authentic · straightforward
Without means to resist
- helplessUnable to act independently
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- preyAnimal being hunted
- victimOne harmed by another
susceptible · endangered · at-risk · exposed · unarmed · weak · imperiled · assailable
Not harmful or threatening
- inoffensiveCausing no displeasure
- safeFree from peril
- mildModerate in intensity
- gentleSoft and kind
unobjectionable · nonlethal · nontoxic · well-meaning · good-natured · blameless · clean · tame
virginal
Unsullied or inexperienced
- chasteAbstaining from sexual activity
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- untouchedNot contacted or affected
maiden · modest · uncorrupted · unsullied · undefiled · immaculate · pristine · wholesome · unblemished · spotless
guiltless
Not at fault
- exoneratedCleared of wrongdoing
- acquittedDeclared legally innocent
- clearedFound not guilty
absolved · vindicated · faultless · irreproachable · unimpeachable · uninvolved · not guilty · clean-handed · above suspicion · inculpable
wide-eyed
Showing naive amazement
pure-hearted · trusting · guileless · unspoiled · carefree · lighthearted · wholesome · angelic · cherubic · sweet
gullible
Easily deceived
- credulousProne to blind trust
- unsuspectingNot anticipating danger
- ingenuousInnocently frank and trusting
trusting · unworldly · inexperienced · green · impressionable · unsophisticated · simple · artless · guileless · unaware
honest
Free from deception
- genuineTruly what it claims
- candidHonest and direct
- forthrightDirectly honest in manner
heartfelt · truthful · earnest · transparent · frank · open · unfeigned · authentic · straightforward · unpretentious
defenseless
Without means to resist
- helplessUnable to act independently
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- preyAnimal being hunted
victim · susceptible · endangered · at-risk · exposed · unarmed · weak · imperiled · assailable · exploited
benign
Not harmful or threatening
- inoffensiveCausing no displeasure
- safeFree from peril
- mildModerate in intensity
gentle · unobjectionable · nonlethal · nontoxic · well-meaning · good-natured · blameless · clean · tame · anodyne
- mystery fictionwhodunit, whodunnit, sleuth, murder mystery, detective novel
- childlike traitsplayful, curious, imaginative, young, youthful
- innocencepurity, pure, blameless, naive, naivety
- moral judgmentsgood, evil, wicked, virtuous, moral
- childlikenaive, wide-eyed, wonder, playful, guileless
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
innocentguilty
Responsible for wrongdoing
culpable · blameworthy · criminal · punishable · at fault
innocentworldly
Experienced in practical affairs
sophisticated · experienced · knowing · jaded · seasoned
- innocent bystanderUninvolved person harmed incidentally
- loss of innocenceEnd of childhood naivety
- innocent man
- childhood innocenceUntainted early-life simplicity
- innocent as a lambUtterly free from wrongdoing
- guilty or innocentCriminal trial outcomes