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harmless

adjective

ˈhärm-ləs How to pronounce harmless (audio)
Definition of harmlessnext
as in benign
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt a perfectly harmless little spider

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of harmless Procrastination problem Putting off tasks that feel daunting might seem harmless. — Gina Park, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 Chase proves more clever in turning Maya’s harmless couch fort into a claustrophobic labyrinth. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026 With that kind of reach, one of the biggest risks a child can face may begin with a conversation that seems completely harmless. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 In our testing, querying the AI about being alone with a person from other Western countries tended to produce a harmless result. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harmless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmless
  1. benign
  2. safe
  3. innocent
  4. innocuous
  5. inoffensive
  6. healthy
Adjective
  • There have been rare cases of cells turning pre-cancerous, with one severe case triggering a squamous cell carcinoma, though erythema ab igne is typically regarded as a benign condition.
    — Mike McRae September 09, New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The rare but benign condition impacted her balance and caused headaches.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of benign
Adjective
  • Staying realistic about what current systems can and cannot do yet is a safe measure to get value out of the investment.
    — Pat Williams, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Mistakes to Avoid Avoid these mistakes to keep yourself and the bear safe.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of safe
Adjective
  • The 29-year-old was never convicted, but nor was he proven innocent.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
  • As Walter confronts Reed, an unexpected and deeper connection develops between the two men, and Walter begins to believe Reed may be innocent.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • That included building seemingly innocuous details in the main set that could, once things got very dark, be weaponized later.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Welker’s comment may seem innocuous or even complimentary to Trump by suggesting an outsized importance in this year’s elections.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of innocuous
Adjective
  • And on social media, videos show a range of other unwanted recordings, from relatively inoffensive pranks to more harmful videos featuring bullying or harassment.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
  • On the surface, Little House on the Prairie is one of the most inoffensive and wholesome shows of all time.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026
Definition of inoffensive
Adjective
  • That breadth matters because a healthy theater community needs places where smaller companies don’t carry the price or expectations of Broadway shows.
    — Brian Beirne, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers believe this national longevity is likely linked to low rates of obesity, healthy diets, widespread health screenings and affordable health care, which lead to lower mortality rates from heart disease and cancer.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of healthy

Browse Nearby Words

harming
harmless
harmlessness
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Cite this Entry

“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmless. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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