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1
: free from harm, liability, or loss
2
: lacking capacity or intent to injure : innocuous
a harmless joke
harmlessly
adverb
harmlessness
noun
Synonyms
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
See all Example Sentences for harmless
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'harmless.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of harmless was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near harmless
Cite this Entry
“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmless. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on harmless
Nglish: Translation of harmless for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of harmless for Arabic Speakers
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