Identify the synonym of 'Innocuous':
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Harmless
Explanation
The question asks to identify the synonym (a word with the same or a very similar meaning) for "Innocuous." To solve this quickly for an exam, break down the word using Latin roots or look for the odd-one-out among the options.
The word "Innocuous" is derived from the Latin roots in- (meaning "not") and nocere (meaning "to hurt" or "to injure"). Therefore, something that is innocuous is completely safe, mild, and not likely to irritate or cause any injury. This makes "Harmless" its exact synonym.
Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:
"Harmful," "Dangerous," and "Toxic" are all words that describe things that cause injury, hazard, or poisoning. In fact, these three words are actually antonyms (opposites) of innocuous.
Because the other three options share a negative, destructive meaning, "Harmless" stands out as the correct choice, making Option 2 the right answer.
Key Points
Identifying synonyms for unfamiliar vocabulary words can often be simplified by recognizing that multiple negative options (Harmful, Dangerous, Toxic) usually cancel each other out in a single-choice format.
The Latin root noc- or nox- always deals with harm, which is also visible in words like noxious (poisonous) and obnoxious (highly offensive). Adding the negative prefix in- creates the meaning of absolute safety.