toothless

American

[tooth-lis] / ˈtuθ lɪs /

adjective

lacking teeth.
without a serrated edge, as a saw.
lacking in force or sharpness; dull; ineffectual.

a toothless argument.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of toothless

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at tooth, -less

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Standing about 25 inches tall, it likely had a toothless beak, large eye sockets, and hollow bones.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

They are lulled into a smug confidence that his threats will always be toothless bluster.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

England looked toothless without him against Uruguay and Japan and when he also missed Bayern's game over the weekend, fears grew over a more serious issue than had been diagnosed.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

By now most Americans and Canadians know of Jack Hughes, the impossibly toothy and toothless forward on the 2026 U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

I ran with Burke and Clarence, and I forgot about Granny being toothless and diminished.

From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023