toothless

adjective

tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs How to pronounce toothless (audio)
1
: having no teeth
2
a
: lacking in sharpness or bite
… spoke in toothless generalities.—Arthur Hepner
b
: lacking in means of enforcement or coercion : ineffectual

Examples of toothless in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This broad language on local spending authority may render the earlier stipulations toothless. — Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 Their attack sorely lacked speed and dynamism last season, which was a major reason why Arne Slot’s side looked so toothless in attack. — Andy Jones, New York Times, 30 July 2026 Ferrell, Henchy and David Gordon Green all previously worked on Eastbound & Down, a sports comeback series with enough superficial similarities to underline how toothless The Hawk and especially its characters are. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026 Critics weren’t as fond of the weirdly toothless movie, but audiences showed up anyway. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for toothless

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of toothless was in the 14th century

Rhymes for toothless

See All Rhymes for toothless

Browse Nearby Words

toothing
toothless
toothlet
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toothless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toothless. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

toothless

adjective
tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs How to pronounce toothless (audio)
: having no teeth

More from Merriam-Webster on toothless

Nglish: Translation of toothless for Spanish Speakers

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