as in benign
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
a perfectly harmless little spider
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harmless
When to Seek Emergency Care Hives are usually harmless, but in some cases potentially life-threatening health complications can occur, requiring emergency medical care.
—
Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 2025
Merck of Kenilworth, New Jersey, makes the vaccine by adding a gene for an Ebola surface protein to a virus that is harmless to humans.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 24 Jan. 2025
In an allergy, immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific to allergens (normally harmless substances that trigger an immune response in some people) may be detected in the blood.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 31 Jan. 2025
Bubbly urine, which may occur from urinating quickly or forcefully, is harmless.
—Heidi Cope, Health, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for harmless 
Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 2025
Merck of Kenilworth, New Jersey, makes the vaccine by adding a gene for an Ebola surface protein to a virus that is harmless to humans.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 24 Jan. 2025
In an allergy, immunoglobulin E (IgE) specific to allergens (normally harmless substances that trigger an immune response in some people) may be detected in the blood.
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 31 Jan. 2025
Bubbly urine, which may occur from urinating quickly or forcefully, is harmless.
—Heidi Cope, Health, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for harmless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmless
Adjective
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The interrogation—albeit benign—at secondary inspection signaled the beginning.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
10 Feb. 2025
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Pollard revealed that the seemingly benign legislation benefited Goggin’s longtime friend and sometime business partner, Dennis Krieger, who was underwriting a stock sale for a company that made the only devices Goggin’s legislation would finance.—
Dan Walters,
Orange County Register,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Air travel is the absolute safest form of transportation, according to a 2024 Transportation Statistics Report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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That might mean holding hands or talking through memories of previous safe trips.—
Angela Haupt,
TIME,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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After a 16-month war that started with the horrific killing of 1,200 innocent Israelis and abduction of 250 more by Hamas terrorists and then the killing of more than 47,500 people in Gaza — mostly women and children — a fragile ceasefire began Jan. 19.—
Mike Quigley,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
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One day, during an innocent prank call in a phone booth, Richard shockingly witnesses his classmate violently get sucked into the phone receiver and disappear without a trace.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Peyton Watson is out for a month after what at first blush appeared to be an innocuous injury.—
AAron Ontiveroz,
The Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2025
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Though Direct File sounds innocuous enough, the program has seeded controversy.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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What to do instead: Make the task itself more pleasant or at least inoffensive.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
31 Jan. 2025
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Review: As Golden Globes host, Nikki Glaser delivered a good time at Hollywood’s party night: Despite a long ceremony chock full of awards, emcee Nikki Glaser kept the show moving along with lightly cutting and relatively inoffensive jokes.—
Matt Brennan,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Even with an onslaught of policy developments and fears of sticky inflation rocking the market in 2025, a healthy economy underpinning strong earnings growth has mostly helped traders shrug off their concerns.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2025
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Carter started three of 11 games, missing time with a wrist injury, but was a healthy scratch throughout the playoffs.—
Tim Graham,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near harmless
Cite this Entry
“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmless. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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