UNTHREATENING Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

unthreatening

adjective

Definition of unthreatening

as in nonthreatening

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in benign

Related Words

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 unthreatening Lack of efforts to provide corrective knowledge about the unthreatening reality of TMI and the unique Soviet circumstances of the Chernobyl accident encouraged widespread belief that nuclear represented an essentialist threat to public safety. — Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 9 June 2026 The initial failure in Iraq was mitigated by a shift in strategy that ultimately left Iraq relatively stable and unthreatening to its neighbors and kept the United States dominant in the region. — Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026 Even facing just one half of Lamar Jackson and a mostly unthreatening Tyler Huntley, this defense did just enough against a top-10 rushing attack after putting some of the worst tape of any run defense in the league the past 5-6 weeks. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Dec. 2025 This year’s furry green villain is more funny than scary, his behavior unthreatening, his confrontational manner with the Whos never feeling particularly dangerous. — Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unthreatening

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unthreatening

Adjective

Instead of the industrial look favored by many rival robots, NEO is notable for its aggressively nonthreatening appearance.

— James Vincent, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Here, grizzlies don’t equate people with food—as opposed to populated areas where alluring smells forge a connection—and have learned to tolerate humans, thanks to decades of naturalists adopting nonthreatening practices.

— Susan Portnoy, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025

Definition of nonthreatening

Adjective

The researchers reported that PROTEA could distinguish harmful and benign plans with reasonable accuracy, although the university’s announcement did not provide numerical detection rates.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Especially when your polling is no doubt telling you that progressives and anti-capitalists will struggle to trust any billionaire, however seemingly benign.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of benign

Adjective

These symptoms can have harmless explanations, and Midnight Mimosa may operate without obvious warning signs.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
This allows the system to identify actions that may appear harmless individually but become dangerous in context.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of harmless

Adjective

The Michigan Senate contest is just one of the high-profile races where AIPAC has spent in favor of a pro-Israel politician or in opposition to someone the organization sees as less favorable to Israel.

— Saige Miller, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
Wedgewood polls tended to be about 1 percentage point more favorable for Democrats than other polls, according to Silver.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of favorable

Adjective

The latest incidents reported by OpenAI highlight how agents can autonomously weaken safety guardrails while carrying out seemingly innocuous tasks.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
My main issue with these beloved and mostly innocuous $16 drinking glasses is less about their design and more about their never-ending trail of replicas.

— Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of innocuous

Adjective

According to the team, lab tests have already shown promising results.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Monday morning is not exactly prime time for dealership traffic, but a handful of prospective customers were in the showroom, which is a promising sign.

— Eric Bangeman, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of promising

Adjective

The results help scientists keep nuclear weapons safe and functional without having to set one off.

— Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Recent surveys featured in this newsletter have found Democrats believe more strongly that vaccines are safe and effective, and Republicans are often more skeptical.

— Amanda Erickson, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of safe

Adjective

Other big tech stocks likewise fell following quarterly reports that included at least some encouraging nuggets.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Besides SpaceX’s profit report showing strength for AI spending, another encouraging signal for the industry came from Super Micro Computer, which sells AI servers and services.

— Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of encouraging

Browse Nearby Words

unthreads

unthreatening

unthrifty

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unthreatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unthreatening. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unthreatening

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes