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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
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
-
Pomegranates also contain vitamin K and folate, which can help support healthy blood clotting and cell growth, respectively.
-
The indexes are sitting on healthy gains for the year despite a slight pullback in June.
Adjective
-
The Korean Football Association was furious, responding to this juvenile, but ultimately harmless, prattle by boycotting the Korean press.
-
Everyday activities like showering and cooking can create indoor condensation that may appear harmless, but can actually pose serious problems if it's not controlled.
Adjective
-
But at that point, the headlines were still focused on relatively benign annoyances like car engines conking out, or a bridge getting stuck on Roosevelt Road.
-
Such a seemingly benign move puts Ethiopia in opposition to China’s monopoly and is a rebuke of the former object of Ethiopian emulation.
Adjective
-
And on the surface, Lind's premise is unobjectionable.
-
This is useful for all sorts of unobjectionable things, such as Covid testing and tracing.
Adjective
-
On the surface, Little House on the Prairie is one of the most inoffensive and wholesome shows of all time.
-
The Breadwinner is aiming to recapture the satisfaction of going to see a three-out-of-five-star movie, offering decent laughs in an inoffensive package.
Adjective
-
These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.
-
This seemingly innocuous question continues to shape mathematical research to this day.
Adjective
-
Successions are rarely painless.
-
If the worst happens, Avast makes getting help painless.
Adjective
-
Videos have flooded social media platforms in the hours since the earthquakes hit Venezuela, with people both inside and outside the country using them to gauge the extent of the destruction, and check if the homes of uncontactable family members are safe.
-
Police said in a news release Thursday afternoon that Caprice and her child have been found safe.
Cite this Entry
“Nonthreatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonthreatening. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
