toothless

adjective

tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs How to pronounce toothless (audio)
1
: having no teeth
2
a
: lacking in sharpness or bite
spoke in toothless generalitiesArthur Hepner
b
: lacking in means of enforcement or coercion : ineffectual

Examples of toothless in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And, of course, if an off-brand browser is present on the Mac, the content filter is toothless. PCMAG, 17 Mar. 2025 The long-tail effect of all this is to make Quinn and all his many lackeys seem as toothless a threat as Zachary Beck is. Chris Klimek, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025 Open world games like Skyrim or The Witcher present seamless realms to explore, filled with countless little icons and distractions to tackle, some of which feel like nothing more than toothless distractions. Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2025 President Trump signed an executive order meant to expand access to IVF this week, but Democrats say the directive is toothless. Stephen Neukam, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toothless

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of toothless was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Toothless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toothless. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

toothless

adjective
tooth·​less ˈtüth-ləs How to pronounce toothless (audio)
: having no teeth

More from Merriam-Webster on toothless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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