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

As for carrots, consuming substantial quantities of carrot juice over time can lead to a temporary condition called carotenemia, a harmless but noticeable yellow-orange tint to the skin. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025

The researchers stress that this test used a harmless example (making the model spit out gibberish text) that is unlikely to pose significant risks in frontier models. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025

Once captured, the pollutants are converted through a natural chemical reaction into stable byproducts—CO2 into carbonates such as calcium carbonate (CaCOz) and NOx into small quantities of harmless nitrates. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025

Benton, of the Senior Citizens League, said a hold harmless provision will ensure that Social Security checks do not decrease, as a result of the Medicare increase. —Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 13 Oct. 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