innoxious

9.5

Not harmful to people or animals

adjective
/ɪˈnɒkʃəs/

: inócuo

The chemical was found to be innoxious, posing no threat to humans or animals.

Examples

Despite its ominous appearance, the snake is actually innoxious to humans.
This additive is considered innoxious when used in small quantities.
The plant is innoxious and safe for pets.
Is this chemical innoxious to the environment?
The chemical was found to be innoxious, posing no threat to humans or animals.
Despite its ominous appearance, the snake is actually innoxious to humans.
The plant is innoxious and safe for pets.

Synonyms

nontoxic

vsinnoxious

6 3.4

Safe for people, animals, and the environment

means harmless in any way, not only free from poison

undangerous

vsinnoxious

1 4.1

Safe and not likely to cause harm

states it causes no harm at all rather than just low risk

nonpoisonous

vsinnoxious

1 2.5

Not containing poison and safe to touch or eat

is broader, indicating no adverse effect beyond poisoning risks

atoxic

vsinnoxious

Specialized

1 7.4

A thing that is not poisonous to people or animals

covers harmlessness more generally, not only absence of toxins

Antonyms

dangerous

∞ 1.5

Likely to cause harm or injury

harmful

158 2.6

Causing damage to people, animals or things

How Harmful

deadly

547 2.8

dangerous

∞ 1.5

harmful

158 2.6

innoxious

9.5

harmless

214 1.0

Surface Forms

innoxious positive

Morphology

innoxious = noxious (transparent) = in + nox + ious

The meaning is directly recoverable as the standard negative prefix 'in-' added to 'noxious'.

Etymology

Innoxious comes from the prefix in- meaning 'not' and the word noxious meaning 'harmful'. So it literally means 'not harmful', which is why we use it to describe something harmless.