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

Under the hold harmless provision that applies to some beneficiaries, the increase in Medicare Part B premiums is limited to the dollar amount of a recipient's COLA, said Shannon Benton, executive director of the Senior Citizens League, which was established in 1992. —Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 17 Nov. 2025

Is everyone eligible for hold harmless? —Medora Lee, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025

The world instantly retreated, turned dim and soft and harmless. —Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025

Kenney, of Abington, Massachusetts, said the alligator, being young and just a foot (30 centimeters) long, is basically harmless to humans. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 14 Nov. 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