Choose the correct antonym for the word INNOCUOUS from the options given
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Harmful
Innocuous means harmless, not likely to cause harm or offence. Its antonym is harmful.
Example: The snake looked frightening but was quite innocuous.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Wholesome | good for health or morally good (it is on the same positive side as innocuous, not opposite to it) | Fresh fruit is a wholesome snack. |
| (2) Harmful (answer) | causing harm or damage (it is the direct opposite of "not harmful") | Smoking is harmful to health. |
| (3) Salutary | having a good effect, often after something unpleasant (it is not the opposite of harmless) | The defeat was a salutary lesson for the team. |
| (4) Innocent | not guilty, and also harmless, as in "an innocent joke" (it is close to innocuous, a synonym) | It was an innocent remark, not meant to hurt anyone. |
| Synonyms of innocuous: harmless, innocent, inoffensive, safe Antonyms of innocuous: harmful, dangerous, injurious, noxious Also asked in CUET (UG): innocuous – 18-05-2026 Slot 2, 15-05-2026 Slot 1, 30-05-2025 Slot 1, 21-05-2025 Slot 2, 20-05-2025 Slot 1, 13-05-2025 Slot 1, 30-05-2023 Slot 2 |