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
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For most healthy adults, the occasional cola—such as a few servings per week—is unlikely to affect the kidneys in any measurable way.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
2 May 2026
-
Unlike colon or breast cancer, there is no routine screening for pancreatic cancer in healthy people.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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The right-hander blanked the Rockies for five innings, allowing four harmless singles over.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
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While most are harmless, some have the potential to become malignant over time.—
Holly Burns,
Time,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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Far from benign, some experts say the videos can skew how people view and even interact with wildlife — potentially leading to perilous encounters.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
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Then again, the political weather was much more benign, the two nations having worked hand in glove in the first Gulf War.—
Katie Nicholl,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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While a standard Whiskey Sour is a delightful experience, almost invariably mixed with bourbon and made smooth and unobjectionable with egg white, the Rattlesnake is that same framework but greener.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
10 Jan. 2026
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After all, humans often intervene in the natural order in morally unobjectionable ways.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
13 Nov. 2025
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
-
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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Liquids are restricted to very small amounts because there have been terrorist plots in the past in which people disguised liquid explosives as innocuous substances like shampoo or soft drinks.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
As is his custom, House posed a follow-up question that sounded innocuous.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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During the primary stage, within a few days to a few weeks of infection, most patients develop a painless ulcer at the site of exposure.—
Casey Pinto,
The Conversation,
1 May 2026
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These are more likely to cause painless rectal bleeding or tissue that protrudes during a bowel movement.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Water has been a focus of the Newsom administration since his first day in office, when the governor took his cabinet to Monterey Park Tract, a rural Central Valley community that lacked access to safe drinking water.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Our daughters no longer feel safe in their sports or private spaces.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonthreatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonthreatening. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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