harmless

adjective

ˈhärm-ləs How to pronounce harmless (audio)
Definition of harmlessnext
as in benign
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt a perfectly harmless little spider

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of harmless Those changes don't exactly make medical bills harmless, however. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 29 July 2026 The monastic Wiesler eventually comes to believe Dreyman is harmless and in the process doubts the very foundations of autocracy itself. — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 July 2026 Once opened and exposed to air, harmless vinegar bacteria may indeed start to grow. — Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 25 July 2026 There are conceivable uses that might seem entertaining or harmless, such as interacting with a consenting celebrity or a recreation of a historical figure. — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for harmless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmless
  1. benign
  2. safe
  3. innocent
  4. innocuous
  5. inoffensive
  6. healthy
Adjective
  • Heartbreak and rejection leave people emotionally vulnerable, and the manosphere pitch often comes paired with benign advice about standing up for yourself, being mentally tough, or becoming physically active.
    — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
  • Some incidents are benign, while others can be signs of something more serious.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 27 July 2026
Definition of benign
Adjective
  • Officers say the changes are aimed at addressing a recent rise in overnight disturbances while reassuring visitors and businesses that Old Sacramento remains a safe destination.
    — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • City leaders say the buildings are safe and that data submitted to Florida regulators were miscategorized.
    — David Smiley, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of safe
Adjective
  • Petticrew broke out stateside by playing IRA activist Dolours Price, a woman whose understandable aggrievement led her to harm innocent civilians as well as herself.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 27 July 2026
  • Killing children and other innocent Palestinians, then stealing land under a false prophecy is not defending Israel.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • The current charge against Comey, in short, relies on a tendentious interpretation of an innocuous term combined with a disregard for the First Amendment in order to gin up charges against a man Trump has been targeting openly for nearly a decade.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • The feeling is cheeky and curious, a soundtrack to innocuous mischief.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
Definition of innocuous
Adjective
  • On the surface, Little House on the Prairie is one of the most inoffensive and wholesome shows of all time.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026
  • The Breadwinner is aiming to recapture the satisfaction of going to see a three-out-of-five-star movie, offering decent laughs in an inoffensive package.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Definition of inoffensive
Adjective
  • She has been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes vision loss, and lupus, a disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs instead of fighting germs, according to court records.
    — Chase Jordan July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • And unlike day one of last season, which saw offensive lineman Bayron Matos get airlifted to a local hospital and cornerback Artie Burns suffer a significant knee injury, the Dolphins emerged healthy.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of healthy

Browse Nearby Words

harming
harmless
harmlessness
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Cite this Entry

“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmless. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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