harmless

adjective

harm·​less ˈhärm-ləs 

1

: free from harm, liability, or loss

2

: lacking capacity or intent to injure : innocuous

a harmless joke

harmlessly adverb

harmlessness noun

Synonyms

• anodyne
• benign
• hurtless
• innocent
• innocuous
• inoffensive
• safe
• white

Examples of harmless in a Sentence

His ideas seem harmless enough.

We're just having a bit of harmless fun.

It was just a harmless joke.

Recent Examples on the Web

Though the aurora borealis is harmless eye candy, some of the particles flung at high speed by the sun towards earth can disrupt electronics on earth and in orbit. —Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2024

Who exactly is this gruff, sarcastic, but seemingly harmless boy who has returned to their hometown of Five Fingers, Michigan, after three mysterious years away? —Rasputin Todd, The Enquirer, 10 May 2024

The high doses of vitamins and minerals delivered through IV drips may not be entirely harmless. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 1 May 2024

Unfortunately for Miami, the Hurricanes got just one other hit in the entire game — a harmless single by Jacoby Long. —Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 26 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

harmless

adjective

harm·​less ˈhärm-ləs 

1

: free from harm

2

: unable to harm

harmlessly adverb

harmlessness noun

Legal Definition

harmless

adjective

harm·​less

1

: free from harm, liability, or loss

—often used in the phrase to hold harmless see also hold harmless

2

: lacking capacity or intent to injure

harmlessly adverb

harmlessness noun