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 of harmless

• 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

What troubled him even more was her attempt to justify the moment as harmless. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

When fake videos make rare species look common, or portray dangerous animals as harmless companions, the baseline for what nature looks like starts to drift. —New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025

Here's how to tell the difference between harmless crystals and signs of spoiled cheese, plus how to store your cheese properly to keep it tasting its best. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025

Request a recall or reversal and ask for a hold harmless letter or letter of indemnity. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th 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