toothless

adjective

tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs 

1

: having no teeth

2

a

: lacking in sharpness or bite

… spoke in toothless generalities.

—Arthur Hepner

b

: lacking in means of enforcement or coercion : ineffectual

Examples of toothless in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a result, state laws establishing some of the lowest limits on interest rates in places like California and New York were toothless. —Brandon Holveck, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

But the federation was designed by Lessing to be toothless, and conditions got worse and worse. —Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026

But the texts of these new laws—which are heavily predicated on a kidfluencer’s willingness to sue his or her own parents—are at turns vague, confounding, and possibly toothless. —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026

The toothless man was white, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed roughly 112 pounds and had long gray hair that matched his beard and mustache. —David Debolt, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for toothless

• ruthless

Medical Definition

toothless

adjective

tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs 

: having no teeth