Adjective

(en adjective)

Marked by heated arguments or controversy.

* {{quote-news

, year=2012 , date=June 19 , author=Phil McNulty , title=England 1-0 Ukraine , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Ukraine, however, will complain long and hard about a contentious second-half incident when Marko Devic's shot clearly crossed the line before it was scrambled away by John Terry, only for the officials to remain unmoved.}}

Given to struggling with others out of jealousy or discord.

Adjective

(en adjective)

Harmless; producing no ill effect.

* 1892 , , A Footnote to History , ch. 9:

The shells fell for the most part innocuous ; an eyewitness saw children at play beside the flaming houses; not a soul was injured.

* 1910 , , The Lair of the White Worm , ch. 11:

Other things, too, there were, not less deadly though seemingly innocuous —dried fungi, traps intended for birds, beasts, fishes, reptiles, and insects.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=September 2 , author= , title=Wales 2-1 Montenegro , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=As the half closed Bale and Ledley both went close with good efforts, but Bellamy picked up a yellow card for an innocuous challenge that also rules the new Liverpool man out of the trip to Wembley.}}

Inoffensive; unprovocative; not exceptional.

* 1893 , , Mrs. Falchion , ch. 12:

Ruth Devlin announced that the song must wait, though it appeared to be innocuous and child-like in its sentiments.

* 1910 , , The Intrusion of Jimmy , ch. 28:

He sat down, and lighted a cigarette, casting about the while for an innocuous topic of conversation.