1
: free from harm, liability, or loss
2
: lacking capacity or intent to injure : innocuous
a harmless joke
harmlessly
adverb
harmlessness
noun
Synonyms
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
The primary byproduct is helium, a harmless inert gas.
—
Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Hackers have built a whole website and set up companies using AI to make the malware appear harmless.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
This is an alarming but technically harmless symptom: the nail or nails usually grow back normally on their own.2
A Quick Review
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious illness caused by the coxsackievirus that commonly affects young children.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 15 Dec. 2024
To mitigate this risk, merchants are encouraged to include hold harmless clauses in agreements with platforms, safeguarding against financial or legal consequences from platform non-compliance.
—Aleksandra Bal, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harmless 
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Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Hackers have built a whole website and set up companies using AI to make the malware appear harmless.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 18 Dec. 2024
This is an alarming but technically harmless symptom: the nail or nails usually grow back normally on their own.2
A Quick Review
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious illness caused by the coxsackievirus that commonly affects young children.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 15 Dec. 2024
To mitigate this risk, merchants are encouraged to include hold harmless clauses in agreements with platforms, safeguarding against financial or legal consequences from platform non-compliance.
—Aleksandra Bal, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harmless
Dictionary Entries Near harmless
Cite this Entry
“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmless. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
harmless
adjective
harm·less
ˈhärm-ləs 
1
: free from harm
2
: unable to harm
harmlessly
adverb
harmlessness
noun
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