nonthreatening
adjective
non·threat·en·ing
ˌnän-ˈthret-niŋ 
-ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ
1
: not constituting a threat
a nonthreatening illness
2
: not likely to cause anxiety
a nonthreatening environment
also
: innocuous sense 2
Examples of nonthreatening in a Sentence
It's best to approach the dog in a calm, nonthreatening way.
Recent Examples on the Web
Here, grizzlies don’t equate people with food—as opposed to populated areas where alluring smells forge a connection—and have learned to tolerate humans, thanks to decades of naturalists adopting nonthreatening practices.
—
Susan Portnoy, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free,’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025
There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was 'set free,' because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
These feel natural and nonthreatening but still move the conversation forward.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonthreatening
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Susan Portnoy, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free,’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025
There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was 'set free,' because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
These feel natural and nonthreatening but still move the conversation forward.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonthreatening
Cite this Entry
“Nonthreatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonthreatening. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nonthreatening
adjective
non·threat·en·ing
-ˈthret-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: not constituting a threat
a nonthreatening illness
2
: not likely to cause anxiety
nonthreatening activities
also
: innocuous sense 2
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