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

The appellate court found that the prosecution failed to meet its burden to demonstrate, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the constitutional error was harmless. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026

The experiment might turn out to be harmless, but it shouldn’t be run at all. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026

There’s something comforting about returning to the films that made the genre so beloved in the first place, where misunderstandings feel harmless and happy endings are practically guaranteed. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026

Dangerous cold arrives in Kansas City Friday, bringing wind chills well below zero and the chance for a few harmless snow flurries. —Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 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