ENGLISH
REFERENCE

harmless

adj.
A2 Elementary US //ˈhɑɹmɫəs// UK //hˈɑːmləs// harm·less Archaic

adj. not able to hurt anyone or cause any damage. You use this to describe things that are safe and not dangerous.

adj. incapable of causing injury, damage, or distress. Often used to reassure that a perceived threat is actually benign.


SIMPLE

Don't worry, that little spider is completely harmless.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor explained that the side effects of the medication are usually harmless and disappear within a few hours.

COMPLEX

While the initial software glitch appeared harmless, it eventually revealed a deeper systemic vulnerability that required a complete overhaul of the security protocols.

Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English harmles, from Old English hearmlēas, from Proto-Germanic harmalausaz (“without harm; harmless”), equivalent to harm + -less. Cognate with German harmlos (“harmless”), Danish harmløs (“harlmess”), Swedish harmlös (“harmless”).

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.

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