toothless
adj.adj. having no teeth or having teeth that are broken or missing. It can also describe a plan or a law that is not strong enough to work.
adj. lacking teeth or having teeth that are broken, decayed, or missing. When applied to abstract concepts like laws or proposals, it describes a lack of real power or effectiveness.
The old man has a toothless smile.
The new safety regulations are toothless because the fines for breaking them are too small to matter.
The treaty was criticized as toothless, failing to impose any real restrictions on the military activities of the signatory nations despite its lofty rhetoric.
From Middle English tothles, from Old English tōþlēas, from Proto-Germanic *tanþlausaz (“toothless”), equivalent to tooth + -less. Cognate with Dutch tandeloos (“toothless”), German Low German tannlos (“toothless”), German zahnlos (“toothless”), Danish tandløs (“toothless”), Swedish tandlös (“toothless”), Icelandic tannlaus (“toothless”).