innocent bystanders
Guiltless nearby observers
Innocent bystanders are people who happen to be present when something harmful occurs but have no involvement in causing it.
The phrase typically appears in contexts of violence or accidents: Three innocent bystanders were injured in the shootout.
The adjective innocent emphasizes their lack of culpability—they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- spectatorsThose who observe events
- victimsThose who suffer harm
- collateral damageUnintended harm from military action
- witnessesThose who observe events
- observersThose who watch events
caught in the crossfire · civilian casualties · onlookers · uninvolved · noncombatants · friendly fire · human shields · unintentional · violence · crossfire · stray bullets · third parties · unintended consequences · helplessness · conflict · reckless endangerment · liability · crowd
innocent bystandersperpetrators
Those who commit wrongs
culprits · criminals · offenders · wrongdoers · aggressors
innocent bystanderscombatants
Those engaged in warfare
belligerents · attackers · assailants · aggressors · key players
innocent bystandersfirst responders
Personnel arriving at emergencies initially
rescuers · heroes · Good Samaritans · upstanders · vigilantes
innocent, innocently, innocence, innocents, bystander, bystanders, stand, stands, standing