as in healthy
not likely to cause someone to be afraid or worried; not threatening
It's best to approach the dog in a calm, nonthreatening way.
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Recent Examples of nonthreatening
These feel natural and nonthreatening but still move the conversation forward.
—
Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins The Athletic rating: 3.5 (6th) Fan rating: 3.7 (7th)
McIndoe: Penguins are adorable, nonthreatening and almost completely harmless.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 20 May 2025
That last one may simply be unique to Logan Lerman, the latest nonthreatening boy to take center stage in HAIM’s new album rollout.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
Her previous recipes have included homemade marmalade, ratatouille, pasta from scratch, and tzatziki dip, which all sound lovely and nonthreatening.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 31 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for nonthreatening
Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins The Athletic rating: 3.5 (6th) Fan rating: 3.7 (7th)
McIndoe: Penguins are adorable, nonthreatening and almost completely harmless.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 20 May 2025
That last one may simply be unique to Logan Lerman, the latest nonthreatening boy to take center stage in HAIM’s new album rollout.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
Her previous recipes have included homemade marmalade, ratatouille, pasta from scratch, and tzatziki dip, which all sound lovely and nonthreatening.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 31 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for nonthreatening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonthreatening
Adjective
-
Yes, that extension will probably be worth anywhere from $15-17 million per season — a healthy bump from the $9-million cap hit Makar commanded in ’25-26.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
As a part of a broader effort to help curtail these ill effects, HHS has released a comprehensive advisory report on the harms of screen use and how parents can help promote healthy habits.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
That and a harmless fifth-inning error were the only blemishes on his masterpiece.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
-
While eye rubbing may seem harmless, people who rub their eyes are at risk of infections or damage to their cornea.—
Neelam Patadia,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Just be straight to the point and unwavering, without feeling the need to justify a simple, benign action.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
What followed were three tissue biopsies of the lump over three years, each coming back benign.—
Ayren Jackson-Cannady,
SELF,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
This is useful for all sorts of unobjectionable things, such as Covid testing and tracing.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
10 May 2026
-
Taking a reassuring tone, the post walks readers through a series of unobjectionable commitments.—
Maggie Harrison Dupré,
Futurism,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And like Bargatze, The Breadwinner is relatable, inoffensive and also thoroughly bland.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
-
Inessential and inoffensive, frequently adorable and fun for the whole family, Jon Favreau’s film feels like three good-enough TV episodes smushed together.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
The report itself that came out from his physician was mostly fairly innocuous.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
-
And many other beneficial and innocuous microbes will adapt too, with unknown, and far-reaching, effects.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The procedure itself is painless and done under anesthesia; because of that, patients need someone else to drive them home.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
27 May 2026
-
The system works through a small patch of painless microneedles placed on the skin.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
That's a safer way to catch hummers' attention.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
-
The ball hit the bag and bounced away from Spencer Torkelson, so Walton was safe.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonthreatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonthreatening. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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