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nonthreatening

adjective

Definition of nonthreateningnext
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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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 nonthreatening These feel natural and nonthreatening but still move the conversation forward. — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 21 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 Talk over your concerns with your boss in a nonthreatening and professional way. — Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2022 See All Example Sentences for nonthreatening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonthreatening
  1. healthy
  2. harmless
  3. benign
  4. unobjectionable
  5. inoffensive
  6. innocuous
  7. painless
  8. safe
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
Adjective
  • Its short fangs can likely pierce human skin, but the spider is not known to bite humans and is considered harmless.
    — Melissa Petruzzello, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
  • When we are inoculated against a disease, we are exposed to a small, harmless dose of something dangerous.
    — Rebecca Stafford, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of harmless
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
  • On its face, Barker said much of the advice sounds unobjectionable.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Such qualities might be unobjectionable, even desirable, in and of themselves, but their ubiquitous appearance across the internet has turned them into instant design clichés.
    — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
Definition of unobjectionable
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 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
  • All that’s required is a compromised website—a painless enough task—a fake CAPTCHA overlay, and the inclusion of a single terminal command.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • People are increasingly looking to coronary artery calcium scans as a quick and painless way to learn more about their heart health risk—important information, considering heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
    — Laura Bradley, HEALTH, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of painless
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

Browse Nearby Words

nonthinking
nonthreatening
nontotalitarian
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Cite this Entry

“Nonthreatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonthreatening. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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