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

In early life, this tissue exposes developing immune cells to intestinal microbes, helping the body learn to distinguish between harmless symbionts and harmful pathogens. —Lilia Goncharova, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026

There are several key differences between harmless browning and actual spoilage to look for when assessing your avocado. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 9 Mar. 2026

But sometimes letting your kid win at a harmless, just-for-fun board game or game of catch might not be quite as high stakes. —Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026

Some may grumble that a seemingly harmless 2032 lunar impact—one explosive enough to be visible to the naked eye—is no longer in the cards. —Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 5 Mar. 2026

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