harmless
HAHM-luhs
Harmless (adj) means not capable of causing injury or harm; safe. Example: “The spider looks scary but it's completely harmless.”
adj
1
Not capable of causing injury or harm; safe.
"The spider looks scary but it's completely harmless."
"We use a harmless chemical spray to keep the plants free of pests."
"The grass snake found in our garden is harmless to people and pets."
2
Not meant to hurt or offend anyone.
"It was just a harmless joke between friends."
"She gave him a harmless nickname that everyone found funny."
"His teasing was harmless, and she laughed along with the rest of us."
How to use harmless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that won't hurt you or cause damage.
Common pairings
harmless fun
perfectly harmless
harmless joke
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more harmless
- Superlative
- most harmless
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The spider looks scary but it's completely _____.
Etymology
From Old English hearmlēas, built from harm plus the suffix -less ("without"). The German cousin harmlos means the same thing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “harmless” mean?
The word “harmless” means not capable of causing injury or harm; safe. In plain terms, something that won't hurt you or cause damage.
How do you pronounce “harmless”?
“Harmless” is pronounced HAHM-luhs (/ˈhɑɹmləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “harmless” in a sentence?
Here is “harmless” used in a sentence: “The spider looks scary but it's completely harmless.”
What part of speech is “harmless”?
“Harmless” is an adjective.
Where does the word “harmless” come from?
The word “harmless” comes from Old English. From Old English hearmlēas, built from harm plus the suffix -less ("without"). The German cousin harmlos means the same thing.
Is “harmless” a common word?
“Harmless” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “harmless” have?
“Harmless” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not capable of causing injury or harm; safe.
What is the difference between harmless and safe?
Harmless specifically means not capable of causing injury or harm, focusing on the absence of danger from a particular thing, while safe is broader and can describe an overall state of security or protection from risk generally. Something can be described as harmless in one specific respect while other safety concerns still apply.
What is the difference between harmless and innocent?
Harmless describes something not capable of causing injury, or a remark not meant to hurt or offend, while innocent describes a lack of guilt or wrongdoing. A harmless joke isn't meant to offend, but calling it innocent would instead focus on the intent behind it being free of malice.
How is "harmless" used to describe comments or jokes?
When applied to comments or jokes, harmless means the remark was not meant to hurt or offend anyone, even if it could be misread. People often say "it was meant to be harmless" to clarify that no offense was intended.
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