nonthreatening

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adjective non·threat·en·ing \ ˌnän-ˈthret-niŋ , -ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ \

Definition of nonthreatening

1 :not constituting a threat

a nonthreatening illness

2 :not likely to cause anxiety

a nonthreatening environment

; also :innocuous 2

See nonthreatening defined for English-language learners

See nonthreatening defined for kids

Examples of nonthreatening in a Sentence

It's best to approach the dog in a calm, nonthreatening way.

Recent Examples of nonthreatening from the Web

As a result, these songbird parents produced 40 percent fewer offspring over the breeding season compared to animals that heard nonthreatening sounds.

— liza gross, Smithsonian, "How Fear of Humans Can Ripple Through Food Webs and Reshape Landscapes," 12 July 2017
For the most part, these wines were recognizable, nonthreatening and cheap.

— michael austin, chicagotribune.com, "Get to know Australian wines — beyond cute critter labels," 5 July 2017
Farrell’s Union soldier initially asserts himself as a decent, thankful, nonthreatening presence.

— robert w. butler, kansascity.com, "Sofia Coppola’s ‘The Beguiled’ has its charms but should have been more beguiling," 29 June 2017
My wife loves animals and views the mouse visitor as a furry little nonthreatening creature.

— joan morris, The Mercury News, "Husband and wife disagree on what to do with mice the cat brings in," 12 May 2017
Cherished childhood texts like The Wind in the Willows—whose internalized influence can carry over into adult perceptions of nature—contain nonthreatening, cute, and largely sympathetic portrayals of wildlife taking on human roles.

— jeff vandermeer, The Atlantic, "When Talking Canines Took Over New York," 9 May 2017
At recent Senate hearings to fill the Supreme Court’s open seat, Judge Neil Gorsuch came across as a thoroughly bland and nonthreatening nominee.

— emily bazelon and eric posner, New York Times, "The Government Gorsuch Wants to Undo," 1 Apr. 2017
Samana’s two deluxe float cabins and four pods — the latter of which cost roughly $29,000 a pop — both welcome you to and rouse you from your float in a pointedly nonthreatening voice.

— dylan owens, The Know, "Alone on Valentine’s Day? Tango with an isolation tank," 10 Feb. 2017
In discussing its role, company executives sound less like Thiel, bent on overthrowing the system, and more like a would-be thief strolling through a jewelry store, determined to appear nonthreatening.

— daniel roth, WIRED, "The Future of Money: It’s Flexible, Frictionless and (Almost) Free," 22 Feb. 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nonthreatening.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of nonthreatening

1963

NONTHREATENING Defined for English Language Learners

nonthreatening

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adjective

Definition of nonthreatening for English Language Learners

: not likely to cause someone to be afraid or worried : not threatening

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nonthreatening

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nonthreatening

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