as in benign
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
a perfectly harmless little spider
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harmless
Participants attempt to eliminate one another using water guns or other harmless devices.
—
Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Seasonal allergies happen when the immune system mistakes something harmless in the environment, such as pollen, as a danger, setting off reactions and symptoms that can turn spring from a gift into an ordeal.
—Matt Fuchs, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026
While offering a musical analysis for fart sound effects may sound like a harmless gag, the tech’s tendency to hallucinate and mislead could have far more serious consequences as well.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Apr. 2026
That said, occasional gentle stimulation—like a scalp massage—is generally harmless, according to Bauman.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harmless
Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Seasonal allergies happen when the immune system mistakes something harmless in the environment, such as pollen, as a danger, setting off reactions and symptoms that can turn spring from a gift into an ordeal.
—Matt Fuchs, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026
While offering a musical analysis for fart sound effects may sound like a harmless gag, the tech’s tendency to hallucinate and mislead could have far more serious consequences as well.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 15 Apr. 2026
That said, occasional gentle stimulation—like a scalp massage—is generally harmless, according to Bauman.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harmless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmless
Adjective
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Some winds are considered benign; others harmful.—
Adam Pourahmadi,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
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As propaganda goes, the patriotic programming was benign.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As truck prices have risen, that tax has become a barrier to investing in newer, safer and cleaner vehicles.—
Andrew Stasiowski,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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Officers said Figor's service made the city safer – and left a lasting bite out of crime.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Murray emphasized that all defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty, and declined to discuss the specifics of the case against Rice.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
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There is significant risk that, given the limited evidence specific to individuals, mass trials risk convicting innocent people.—
Will Barker,
TheWeek,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As is his custom, House posed a follow-up question that sounded innocuous.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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Nike recently put up a sign ahead of the Boston Marathon on Newberry Street that may have seemed innocuous to anyone with a brain.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Matter of fact, none of his trademark charisma or humor can be found on the entire album, which seems like a complete misunderstanding of the genre as self-serious and inoffensive.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
17 Mar. 2026
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DeBrusk is the definition of a top-six guy and his top comps — Reilly Smith, Tyler Toffoli, Jason Zucker — speak to his inoffensive archetype.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Collins, Higgins and a healthy Tank Dell could be a lot of fun together.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Planting a tree is an investment in a future with more beauty and shade, less air pollution and flooding, and many other good things that a healthy canopy of trees brings to us and our communities.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmless. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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