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1
: free from harm, liability, or loss
2
: lacking capacity or intent to injure : innocuous
a harmless joke
harmlessly
adverb
harmlessness
noun
Synonyms
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
This malware hides in seemingly harmless applications, such as a game called Minesweeper and a note-taking app referred to as a Notepad.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2024
Even something as seemingly harmless as the hum of appliances or the drone of traffic can have unintended consequences.
—Bill Schiffmiller, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
Learn more › Extended time in space is not exactly harmless to the human body.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 20 Nov. 2024
The issues people value and consider in voting are very personal to them, so what one employee might consider a harmless remark can be received as a personal affront by another.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harmless
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Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of harmless was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near harmless
Cite this Entry
“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmless. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on harmless
Nglish: Translation of harmless for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of harmless for Arabic Speakers
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