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
Their drama is considered campy, entertaining, harmless.
—
Shelby Stewart, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
Take his role in Nickel Boys as a seemingly harmless gofer who turns out to be capable of shocking violence.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
In Ecology this week, the team reports that the chick’s strange appearance may be a case of Batesian mimicry, in which a harmless animal tries to ward off predators by resembling a different, more dangerous species.
—Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 20 Mar. 2025
The bacteria is known to be harmless, but likely means other pathogens are present.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmless
Shelby Stewart, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
Take his role in Nickel Boys as a seemingly harmless gofer who turns out to be capable of shocking violence.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
In Ecology this week, the team reports that the chick’s strange appearance may be a case of Batesian mimicry, in which a harmless animal tries to ward off predators by resembling a different, more dangerous species.
—Byerik Stokstad, science.org, 20 Mar. 2025
The bacteria is known to be harmless, but likely means other pathogens are present.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmless
Adjective
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Inflation still remains a concern because the full impact of tariffs is yet to be felt, however, at least the underlying trends (e.g. non-tariff related inflation) seems benign at this time.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
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The hospital determined that five cases were benign brain tumors of three different types, and six cases were determined not to be brain tumors at all but other health concerns, according to the memo.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Be aware that sheds, storage facilities, mobile homes, and tents are not safe alternatives.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Refusal to act Realistically, Zuckerberg isn’t going to dive into making Instagram safer for teenagers.—
Parmy Olson,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That innocent people are disappearing into El Salvador’s prisons is no secret—making the embrace of Bukele a disturbing signal of just how far a strongman can go without losing political ground.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
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His innocent questions were always softened by stoner jokes.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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From the beginning of his political career, Bukele sought to project a forcefulness that would stand in contrast to El Salvador’s seemingly innocuous, ineffective political class.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
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Seemingly innocuous hillsides like the Koppenberg, Paterberg, or Oude Kwaremont are steeped in the race’s 112-year history, and have been the site of legendary battles for generations.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside Online,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The rest of the picture is largely winsome and inoffensive.—
The New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Instead, we’re left with Disney’s answer to centrism, a live-action adaptation of one of its most classic films that can be described, at best, as inoffensive.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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LaMelo Ball, on a max contract through the 2028-29 season, is undoubtedly one of the game’s most creative players but also hasn’t been able to stay healthy.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Apr. 2025
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Viktor Arvidsson’s spike has been more pronounced since mid-March, and reflects a player who finally appears healthy.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmless. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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