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 Some cracks might be harmless, normal shrinkage cracks, but others might indicate a serious structural issue. — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026 Rogers testified at his trial that the questions were harmless. — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026 Coercion, unnecessary restraint, punishment and attempts to suppress harmless autistic characteristics should never be defended simply because someone calls it ABA. — Robin Koncilja, Denver Post, 28 Sep. 2026 Some belongings are too personal, while others require an extra layer of protection Realtors can’t provide, and a few seemingly harmless items can distract buyers from your home entirely. — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 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
  • Peet, who had been screened since her late 30s because of dense breast tissue and prior benign lumps, was treated with a lumpectomy and radiation and is now on tamoxifen.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In about 90% of those cases, the finding turns out to be benign.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of benign
Adjective
  • Budgets have tightened and commissioners have retreated to the familiar — backing low-cost dramas and safe-bet crime formats.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • That means creating small, deliberate spaces where people feel safe enough to say what is actually happening.
    — Ryoji Sekido, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of safe
Adjective
  • More than 150 innocent civilians were also killed in those strikes, according to a report released by the Pentagon this August.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In England, poet William Cowper portrayed Mai as an innocent corrupted by European society.
    — Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • My main issue with these beloved and mostly innocuous $16 drinking glasses is less about their design and more about their never-ending trail of replicas.
    — Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This has made some machine translations comically inaccurate, sometimes turning innocuous words into vulgar references in English.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of innocuous
Adjective
  • The reaction of longtime fans to a packaging refresh tends to vary, but these new labels seem to be pretty inoffensive.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Craven similarly replicates the formula of inoffensive statement versus misogynistic backlash.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of inoffensive
Adjective
  • The pope isn’t known to be a smoker and has made efforts to have a healthy lifestyle, but there is a history of cancer in his immediate family.
    — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Because your husband should totally be your mentor, that’s a very healthy power dynamic!
    — Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 2026.

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