1
: free from harm, liability, or loss
2
: lacking capacity or intent to injure : innocuous
a harmless joke
harmlessly
adverb
harmlessness
noun
Examples of harmless in a Sentence
His ideas seem harmless enough.
We're just having a bit of harmless fun.
It was just a harmless joke.
Recent Examples on the Web
While some post harmless content such as gym routines and self-improvement advice, other accounts are more sinister.
—
Ivana Scatola, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
These were not harmless prompts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Springtails are harmless, but addressing them helps maintain a clean, comfortable, and pest-free home.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
The appellate court found that the prosecution failed to meet its burden to demonstrate, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the constitutional error was harmless.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harmless
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Ivana Scatola, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
These were not harmless prompts.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Springtails are harmless, but addressing them helps maintain a clean, comfortable, and pest-free home.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
The appellate court found that the prosecution failed to meet its burden to demonstrate, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the constitutional error was harmless.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harmless
Cite this Entry
“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harmless. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
harmless
adjective
harm·less
ˈhärm-ləs 
1
: free from harm
2
: unable to harm
harmlessly
adverb
harmlessness
noun
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