Basic Details
Word: Harmless
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Not able to cause harm or injury; safe.
Synonyms: Innocuous, safe, benign
Antonyms: Harmful, dangerous, injurious
Idioms and Phrases
- As harmless as a kitten: Describes something or someone very gentle and not dangerous at all. Example: "Despite its size, the little dog is as harmless as a kitten."
- Harmless banter: Light-hearted and fun conversation that doesn't hurt anyone's feelings. Example: "Their harmless banter always made the workplace feel more cheerful."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The scientist assured us that the chemicals used in the experiment were completely harmless.
Example 2: Many people think that the small spider they found is harmful, but it is actually quite harmless.
Example 3: The children's game was loud, but it was harmless fun that kept everyone entertained.
Fun Fact
Interestingly, the word "harmless" is derived from the Old English word "harm," which meant injury, damage, or loss. The "less" suffix indicates the absence of harm, creating the word we use today!
Famous Quote
"It is not enough to be harmless; one must also be useful." – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "harmless" mean?
a) Able to cause injury
b) Not able to cause harm
c) Dangerous
d) Very powerful
Answer: b) Not able to cause harm
2. Which of these is a synonym of "harmless"?
a) Dangerous
b) Innocuous
c) Deadly
d) Risky
Answer: b) Innocuous
3. Which sentence uses "harmless" correctly?
a) The harmless balloon rose high into the sky.
b) The harmless car zoomed past us.
c) He found the harmless snake in his garden.
d) The harmless teacher gave a difficult test.
Answer: c) He found the harmless snake in his garden.
4. Which idiom means the same as "harmless"?
a) As harmful as a bear
b) As harmless as a kitten
c) As loud as a lion
d) As quick as a cheetah
Answer: b) As harmless as a kitten
5. What is the opposite of "harmless"?
a) Safe
b) Benign
c) Dangerous
d) Innocuous
Answer: c) Dangerous
