as in benign
not causing or being capable of causing injury or hurt
a perfectly harmless little spider
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of harmless
While there are many types of harmless E. coli, there are six that can cause diarrhea, including O157:H7, which may have contaminated raw onions used on the burgers, according to federal health officials.
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Mustafa Fattah, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024
Although most bacterial strains are harmless, some strains can make people sick and cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness or pneumonia, according to the CDC.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
And lots of small foreign particles—often harmless—still make it through those defenses.
—Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
This particular incident is pretty harmless, and people appear to have left the area without incident.
—Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harmless 
Mustafa Fattah, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024
Although most bacterial strains are harmless, some strains can make people sick and cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness or pneumonia, according to the CDC.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
And lots of small foreign particles—often harmless—still make it through those defenses.
—Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024
This particular incident is pretty harmless, and people appear to have left the area without incident.
—Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harmless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmless
Adjective
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Examine the clues, discard the red herrings, ignore the obvious, and clock the suspicious behavior of that seemingly benign neighbor.Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
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While some reasons are more benign than others, the behavior can signal larger health concerns, says Alt.Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Don't miss out on these amazing savings to enhance your workflow and keep your data safe while on the go.Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
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David Swift stayed up to make sure his wife and daughter got home safe.Dateline NBC, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Investigators believe the two men who were injured were innocent bystanders, police said.Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2024
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The message was clear: Even if your group is defined by targeting innocent people, the Biden-Harris White House will bestow the same legitimacy upon you as any nation-state by granting you a seat at the negotiating table.Pat Fallon, National Review, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The tension begins with a seemingly innocuous scene of Hal walking through a warren of cubicles at the CIA headquarters, on his way for an official U.S. government call to explain the VP’s role in the bombing.Mark Peikert, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
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The term may make the mistakes seem almost innocuous, but in some applications, even a minuscule error rate can have severe ramifications.Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In the immediate aftermath, Bree limits herself to inoffensive black dresses, jumpers and cardigans, before the muted colors of grief eventually give way — over several episodes — to a new vibrant wardrobe signaling an unveiling of sorts.Jemal Polson, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024
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Accelerator Photograph: Amazon Accelerator, Peach Paradise (12-Pack) $24 at Amazon Accelerator is an inoffensive and unassuming option for folks who don’t like brand names or flashy cans.Pete Cottell, WIRED, 8 Aug. 2024
Adjective
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Studies have shown the positive effect that strength training can have on healthy bone development in kids, leading to a lower likelihood of fractures.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
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Supergirl started as a CBS series with a healthy budget and a sunshiney Devil Wears Prada–esque story about Kara Danvers (Melissa Benoist), Superman’s cousin, paying her dues as a journalist and fledgling superhero.Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near harmless
Cite this Entry
“Harmless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmless. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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