Harmless — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈhärm-ləs/ harm·less

Meaning & Definition of Harmless

Harmless (adjective)

  1. free from harm, liability, or loss
  2. lacking capacity or intent to injure, innocuous

Harmless (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt

    "a perfectly harmless little spider"

    similar: anodyne, benign, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe, white
    related: healthful, healthy, salubrious, wholesome, benignant, sound, trustworthy, gentle, gracious, mild, nonthreatening, painless, unobjectionable, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous
    opposite: adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked
    near: poisonous, venomous, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, offensive, painful, scathing, wounding, deadly, fatal, lethal, ruinous, destructive, insidious, malignant, noxious, pestilent, polluted, tainted

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Harmless

The most common words with a similar meaning to Harmless:

anodyne, benign, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe, white

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Harmless

Words with the opposite meaning of Harmless:

adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked

Related Words for Harmless

healthful, healthy, salubrious, wholesome, benignant, sound, trustworthy, gentle, gracious, mild, nonthreatening, painless, unobjectionable, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Near Antonyms of Harmless

poisonous, venomous, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, offensive, painful, scathing, wounding, deadly, fatal, lethal, ruinous, destructive, insidious, malignant

Word Forms of Harmless

Derived words: harmlessly (adverb), harmlessness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Harmless

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Harmless

What does "Harmless" mean?

"Harmless" means free from harm, liability, or loss. As an adjective, it is defined as: free from harm, liability, or loss.

What is another word for "Harmless"?

Other words for "Harmless" include anodyne, benign, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe and white. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Harmless" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Harmless"?

There are 30 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Harmless". Common alternatives include anodyne, benign, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe and white.

What is the opposite of "Harmless"?

Antonyms of "Harmless" include adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious and detrimental. Near antonyms include poisonous, venomous, menacing and ominous.

How do you use "Harmless" in a sentence?

Examples of "Harmless" in a sentence: "a perfectly harmless little spider".

Is "Harmless" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Harmless" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Harmless"?

"Harmless" is pronounced /ˈhärm-ləs/ and divided into syllables as harm·less.

What is the origin of the word "Harmless"?

First known use: 13th century.