stingless

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having no sting or no functional stinging organ

   Stingless bees defend their nests by biting rather than stinging.

2. 2
   adj

   figurative: lacking the power to hurt, punish, or provoke

   Without evidence, the accusation was stingless and soon forgotten.

Formed from sting + -less ("without"). The literal zoological sense describes creatures lacking a usable sting; the figurative sense extends sting's power to wound to words, threats, or punishments.

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