harmless

adjective

harm·​less ˈhärm-ləs 

1

: free from harm, liability, or loss

2

: lacking capacity or intent to injure : innocuous

a harmless joke

harmlessly adverb

harmlessness noun

Synonyms

• benign
• safe
• innocent
• innocuous
• inoffensive
• healthy

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

Seemingly harmless details, like your child’s favorite candy or video game, can be used improperly in the wrong hands. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025

While many non-natives are harmless, some spread quickly and disrupt natural ecosystems. —Deryn Davidson, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2025

Timely because those big, hairy but harmless tarantulas become more visible in the next few weeks as spider-mating season begins and fascinating because of what the male tarantula must go through to survive. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025

Comparatively, the ‘make football great again’ vibe is mostly harmless. —Michael Cox, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

harmless

adjective

harm·​less ˈhärm-ləs 

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