harmless

1 of 2

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

harmlessness

2 of 2

noun

harm·​less·​ness
plural -es
: the quality or state of being harmless

Synonyms of harmless

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of harmless in a Sentence

Adjective 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
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Adjective
When the email is sent, the code points to a completely harmless web page to trick security filters into clearing it. — Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 29 June 2026 Even moderate drinking carries risk and is not as harmless as people, including experts, once thought. — Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 Cooking or Baking Cooking seems harmless enough, but no one is super keen to stand in front of a hot stove during periods of extreme heat, and there's a reason why. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026 From the risk of leaks and water damage to potential electrical issues, a seemingly harmless load of laundry can occasionally turn into an expensive problem. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for harmless

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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 9 Jul. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on harmless

Nglish: Translation of harmless for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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