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

• benign
• safe
• innocent
• innocuous
• inoffensive
• healthy

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

While that might sound harmless, a lot of that data was never cleared for commercial use. —Don Markland, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

But nowadays, there’s some thought that there might be a pre-cancer risk associated with polyps previously considered to be harmless. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025

These videos can look fun and harmless but may teach your child things that aren’t true or even safe. —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 1 Sep. 2025

For decades, sovereign citizens largely flew under the radar in Australia as relatively harmless eccentrics with a special interest in conspiracy theories. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025

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