benign
bih-NINEadjMeaning gentle and kind; also, not harmful
Memory hook BE NINE: a big dog named Nine. The family dog, Nine, is huge, but he is benign: he lets the kitten nap on his back.
Despite his size, the farm’s old horse was benign and let the children brush his mane.
In context The rumor about the new rule sounded alarming, but the change turned out to be benign: it did nothing except change the color of the hall passes.
Similar gentle, harmless, kindly, mild
Opposite malignant, harmful, hostile
From Latin benignus, “kindly, good-natured,” from bene (well).