harmless
UK: ˈhɑːmləs | US: ˈhɑːrmləs
adj. unable or unlikely to cause harm or damage
adj. gentle or inoffensive in nature
The word "harmless" combines the Old English root harm (meaning "injury" or "damage," derived from Proto-Germanic harmaz) with the suffix -less (from Old English -lēas, meaning "without"). The suffix -less is commonly used to negate the root word, creating an adjective that describes the absence of the root’s quality. Over time, "harmless" evolved to describe anything that lacks the capacity to cause harm, extending metaphorically to describe non-threatening behavior or objects.
The spider looked scary but was completely harmless.
His jokes were harmless and made everyone laugh.
The chemical is harmless to humans but toxic to insects.
She gave him a harmless smile before walking away.
The debate remained harmless, with no personal attacks.