1
: free from harm, liability, or loss
2
: lacking capacity or intent to injure : innocuous
a harmless joke
harmlessly
adverb
harmlessness
noun
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
The Bottom Line Pink spots or streaks on cheese can be caused by several different factors, ranging from harmless color changes to bacterial growth.
—
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
Most sunscreens use either chemical filters (like avobenzone or oxybenzone) that absorb UV rays and convert them into harmless heat, or mineral filters (like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that act as a physical shield, reflecting rays away from the skin.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2025
Making matters worse, this life-threatening condition can begin from something as seemingly harmless as pneumonia, a urinary tract infection or even a deep cut.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
The new therapy works by using a harmless virus to deliver special genetic instructions to the brain, researchers said.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmless
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Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
Most sunscreens use either chemical filters (like avobenzone or oxybenzone) that absorb UV rays and convert them into harmless heat, or mineral filters (like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that act as a physical shield, reflecting rays away from the skin.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2025
Making matters worse, this life-threatening condition can begin from something as seemingly harmless as pneumonia, a urinary tract infection or even a deep cut.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
The new therapy works by using a harmless virus to deliver special genetic instructions to the brain, researchers said.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmless
Cite this Entry
“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmless. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
harmless
adjective
harm·less
ˈhärm-ləs 
1
: free from harm
2
: unable to harm
harmlessly
adverb
harmlessness
noun
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