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nonthreatening

nonthreatening

4 3.8
Not likely to make someone feel afraid or unsafe
  • adjective
  • /nɒnˈθrɛtənɪŋ/
translation icon : no amenazante
  • For both children and adults new to computers, guided playing is a simple, nonthreatening way to begin.
  • nonthreatening environment
  • nonthreatening manner
  • nonthreatening way

Examples

  • Songwriting activities can provide young adults an outlet for expression and a nonthreatening forum for sharing feelings.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Honest responses from participants are requested from the moderator, who immediately attempts to establish a nonthreatening atmosphere.

    Academic text (1992)
  • It's incredibly nonthreatening when you introduce yourself as a guy who works at a library.

    Blog text (20)
  • And Fred is just... is beautiful and elegant and nonthreatening.

  • Lawyers should consider the kinds of bad news they might have to deliver, then practice in a nonthreatening environment of peers.

    Academic text (1995)
  • I also love the idea of e-church offering a nonthreatening environment.

    Blog text (32)
  • The discussions during and after a presentation provided a nonthreatening environment in which ideas were encouraged rather than judged.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Because liking cats makes a guy seem nonthreatening, harmless, sensitive, even.

  • Creative improvisation activities, particularly those that are perceived by students as easy and nonthreatening, are critical for teaching students the necessary skills of risk-taking and experimentation.

    Academic text (2014)
  • The teacher created a nonthreatening atmosphere in the classroom to help students feel safe to express their thoughts.

Synonyms

innocuous
vsnonthreatening
30 6.5

Unlikely to hurt or upset people

stresses not causing fear or intimidation as its main point
inoffensive
vsnonthreatening
5 3.2

Not likely to upset or annoy people

highlights absence of threat or fear rather than merely avoiding offence
unthreatening
vsnonthreatening
4 3.2

Not causing fear and looking harmless

emphasizes general lack of threat or intimidation rather than other risks
unoffensive
vsnonthreatening
1 3.7

Something that does not upset people and is harmless

is about not causing fear or intimidation rather than only offense
unmenacing
vsnonthreatening
4.6

Not looking or sounding dangerous

focuses more broadly on not causing fear or harm
unintimidating
vsnonthreatening
4.1

A person or thing that people can approach without feeling scared

centers on avoiding fear or intimidation rather than just comfort
unoffending
vsnonthreatening
4.8

Not making people angry or hurting them

speaks more narrowly to avoiding fear or intimidation
nonoffensive
vsnonthreatening
3.5

Does not attack or harm and serves only to defend

focuses on not causing fear or intimidation rather than intent alone
nonhostile
vsnonthreatening
4.3

Calm and not threatening to others

covers lack of threat and also absence of aggressive intent
undangerous
vsnonthreatening
4.1

Safe and not likely to cause harm

adds that it also avoids causing fear or intimidation, not just harm
unalarming
vsnonthreatening
3.2

Not causing fear or worry

is similar but stresses lack of threat or intimidation specifically
noncoercive
vsnonthreatening
6.8

Not involving force, threats, or pressure to make someone do something

is concerned with not causing fear or intimidation more generally
nonabusive
vsnonthreatening
5.1

Without hurtful words or actions toward other people

focuses on avoiding fear or intimidation rather than abuse specifically
non-malignant
vsnonthreatening
4.1

Not trying to hurt or upset someone

emphasizes not producing fear or intimidation in others
nonabrasive
vsnonthreatening
3.9

Gentle in manner and tone, not likely to offend

is about avoiding fear or intimidation rather than tone alone
non-intrusive
vsnonthreatening
4.5

Not causing trouble or interrupting what people do

relates instead to not provoking fear or intimidation in people

Antonyms

65 3.6

Showing that something bad or dangerous may happen

How Threatening

threatening
65 3.6
dangerous
1.5
worrying
6 2.0
nonthreatening
4 3.8
harmless
231 1.0

Surface Forms

nonthreatening positive
nonthreateninger comparative
nonthreateningest superlative

Morphology

nonthreatening = threatening (transparent) = non + threaten + ing

The negative prefix 'non-' productively negates the adjective 'threatening', yielding the straightforward meaning 'not threatening'.

Etymology

The word nonthreatening starts with non- meaning 'not' and the part threat meaning 'danger' or 'something that could hurt you'. So nonthreatening means 'not dangerous' and describes people, animals, or actions that do not make others feel afraid.