Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
inoffensive

inoffensive

5 3.2
Not likely to upset or annoy people
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪnəˈfɛnsɪv/
translation icon : inoffensivo
  • Standing no more than three feet tall at the shoulder, the llama seems inoffensive, almost a house pet.
  • bland and inoffensive
  • inoffensive jokes
  • relatively inoffensive

So my YouTube channel is very inoffensive, light hearted, bingeable, funny content.

Examples

  • A more orderly, quiet, inoffensive community I have not seen in any other part of the world.

    Academic text (1991)

  • He was a kind and inoffensive man, until he thought Pleyel was robbing him of his life's work.

    Phantom of the Opera (1943)

  • And, generally speaking, it's an inoffensive picture, albeit a slightly dull one.

    Blog text (24)

  • George Watson, a handsome man in a plain, inoffensive way, said it was time for sports.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Edison's subjects were inoffensive, not to say dull.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • So my YouTube channel is very inoffensive, light hearted, bingeable, funny content.

    Happy Hour Podcast

  • The two male members were Muley Duggan and Harry Pidcock, a quiet, inoffensive Pennsylvania farmer.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • At the time it was customary for maiden speeches to be inoffensive and devoid of political content, but Ellen had little time for this type of convention.

  • Stanford's officially endorsed position on curriculum reform and multicultural education should be completely inoffensive to any well-meaning reader from any reasonably moderate political perspective.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The jokes in the movie were inoffensive, making it suitable for viewers of all ages.

Synonyms

innocuous
vsinoffensive
30 6.5

Unlikely to hurt or upset people

focuses more on lack of offense or annoyance than just safety
unobjectionable
vsinoffensive
1 5.2

Not likely to upset or offend people

is similar but also covers being harmless rather than merely acceptable
unoffensive
vsinoffensive
1 3.7

Something that does not upset people and is harmless

places equal weight on being unobjectionable as well as harmless
nonoffensive
vsinoffensive
3.8

Does not upset people and avoids rude or hurtful words

is broader, also stressing harmlessness beyond just lack of upset
unoffending
vsinoffensive
4.8

Not making people angry or hurting them

is more general, focusing on lack of offense rather than innocence
unoffendable
vsinoffensive
6.4

Not likely to upset people, for example a comment or design

adds that it is harmless as well as unlikely to offend
nonabrasive
vsinoffensive
3.9

Gentle in manner and tone, not likely to offend

is centered on being harmless and not offending others
unprovoking
vsinoffensive
6.6

Not likely to cause a strong reaction

is about not causing offense specifically rather than avoiding provocation
offenseless
vsinoffensive
7.9

Not able to hurt or upset someone

is more flexible, covering things that avoid offense but may not be incapable

Antonyms

offensive
  • Offensive
261 4.0

Likely to make people angry or upset

offensive
15 5.3

Having a bad smell or taste that bothers you

How Offensive

outrageous
192 4.2
insulting
  • Offensive
130 3.0
offensive
  • Offensive
261 4.0
inoffensive
5 3.2

Surface Forms

inoffensive positive

Morphology

inoffensive = offensive (transparent) = in + offense + ive

The adjective is a straightforward negated form of 'offensive', meaning simply 'not offensive'.

Etymology

Inoffensive combines the prefix in- meaning 'not' with offensive, from offend meaning 'to upset or anger'. So inoffensive means 'not likely to upset or offend', which is why it describes something harmless or polite.