toothless

adjective

tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs 

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

Elson argued that a recent proposal by Wedbush analyst Dan Ives to erect a special board oversight committee tasked with exercising influence over the CEO showed just how toothless the current slate of directors led by chair Robyn Denholm really is. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 11 July 2025

And the Senate might eliminate all fees on automakers who don't comply with fuel economy rules, which environmental groups say would make those regulations toothless. —Camila Domonoske, NPR, 30 June 2025

Blossom, whose name was revealed earlier this year, sported a toothless grin, hot pink onesie, tiny diamond bracelets and a silk scarf from Louis Vuitton's Takashi Murakami cherry blossom collaboration. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 17 June 2025

Better to accept toothless retaliations amid Tehran’s slow decline. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 23 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for toothless

• ruthless

Medical Definition

toothless

adjective

tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs 

: having no teeth