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

Senate Democrats have blocked the bill, calling it toothless, prompting Husted to accuse the Democrats of not caring or helping. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026

The creature belonged to a family of nonavian dinosaurs known as the caenagnathids characterized by sleek physiologies and toothless beaks. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Oct. 2026

The report paints a picture of the federal system for protecting farm animals in transit as woefully inadequate and largely toothless, dating back to the era when livestock traveled primarily by rail. — Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 24 Oct. 2026

Look no further than the past two weeks, when three major stories captured public fascination while traditional newsrooms responded with either deliberate silence or toothless coverage. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

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