harmless

adjective

harm·​less ˈhärm-ləs How to pronounce harmless (audio)
Synonyms of harmlessnext
1
: free from harm, liability, or loss
2
: lacking capacity or intent to injure : innocuous
a harmless joke
harmlessly adverb
harmlessness noun

Synonyms of harmless

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Examples of harmless in a Sentence

His ideas seem harmless enough. We're just having a bit of harmless fun. It was just a harmless joke.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The categories data brokers can put you in Some of these classifications sound harmless. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 When something as harmless as double texting is seen as a cringey faux pas, salvation takes a backseat to saving face. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 Serious trouble can find its way into even the safest communities, and Green knows better than to assume that a quiet street means a harmless encounter. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026 But defining where harmless fun ends and harmful manipulation begins is far from straightforward. — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harmless

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of harmless was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

harmfulness
harmless
harmlessly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmless. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

harmless

adjective
harm·​less ˈhärm-ləs How to pronounce harmless (audio)
1
: free from harm
2
: unable to harm
harmlessly adverb
harmlessness noun

Legal Definition

harmless

adjective
harm·​less
1
: free from harm, liability, or loss
—often used in the phrase to hold harmless see also hold harmless
2
: lacking capacity or intent to injure
harmlessly adverb
harmlessness noun
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