Synonyms for

Harmless

Verb / ˈhɑ:rmlʌs / Another word for harmless — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

not likely to cause harm or injury

Synonyms & similar words

harmful innocuous safe benign gentle mild nonviolent peaceful unobjectionable unoffensive unthreatening inoffensive nonhazardous nonpoisonous non-toxic noninjurious non-dangerous hurtless uninjurious unhurtful nontoxic

Synonyms by register

Formal

innocuous inoffensive benign harmlessness

Informal

safe okay no problem all good

Literary

gentle mild tame

Antonyms

harmful damaging injurious deleterious pernicious noxious malicious

Common collocations

  • harmless fun
  • harmless joke
  • harmless creature
  • harmless mistake
  • harmless drug
  • harmless prank
  • harmless appearance

Word family

noun harmlessness
adverb harmlessly

Usage note

Often used to describe something that appears threatening but is not, or something that causes no significant damage or offense. Can sometimes imply a lack of power or effectiveness.

Example sentences

  1. The baby panda is harmless and loves to play.
  2. The spider in the corner of the room is harmless and won't bite you.
  3. The butterfly is harmless and won't hurt you.
  4. The medicine is harmless and won't make you sick.
  5. The toy sword is harmless and won't hurt anyone.

Quotes

  • A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.
  • The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
  • Evil is always more easily imagined than good; the heaviest baggage for each is the unbearable lightness of being.

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