toothless

adjective

tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs How to pronounce toothless (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rambunctious female calf caught international attention on social media for her precocious antics, including taking a toothless bite of her handler. Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 15 Feb. 2026 In hindsight, making the character so toothless in the debut episode was a masterstroke. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026 Yet without a way to coordinate governments, enforce regulations and punish compliance, the bloc is, fundamentally, toothless. Brian Wong, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026 Johnson needs to shoot at that level, because his game inside the arc remains fairly toothless. John Hollinger, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for toothless

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of toothless was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Toothless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toothless. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

Medical Definition

toothless

adjective
tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs How to pronounce toothless (audio)
: having no teeth

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