harmless

Harmless, a.

1. Free from harm; unhurt; as, to give bond to save another harmless.

2. Free from power or disposition to harm; innocent; inoffensive. " The harmless deer." Drayton

Syn. -- Innocent; innoxious; innocuous; inoffensive; unoffending; unhurt; uninjured; unharmed. --Harm"less*ly, adv.- Harm"less*ness, n.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for harmless; he lists it under innocent.

Where he writes about it:

Innocent is used of inanimate substances in the sense of harmless; as, an innocent remedy, that is, one not dangerous, even if not helpful. — from innocent

Synonyms

innocent blameless clean clear faultless guileless guiltless immaculate innocuous innoxious inoffensive pure right righteous sinless spotless stainless upright virtuous

Antonyms

criminal fierce formidable

etymology Webster’s online