defangedadj.
/ˌdiːˈfaŋd/, U.S. /ˌdiˈfæŋd/ Originally North American.
1. Of an animal, esp. a snake: that has had its fangs removed.
ΚΠ
1899 Independent (N.Y.) 25 May 1423/2 It would have been as agreeable to seat before my cozy wood fire..a defanged cobra, or a superannuated tigress.
1942 Hartford (Connecticut) Daily Courant 13 Dec. 7/1 Many soldiers have been here many months without seeing an elephant or cobra except the few defanged snakes kept by snake charmers.
1964 Atlanta Constit. 12 Oct. 14/2 A newspaper carrier was mauled here Sunday by a pet defanged leopard.
2014 D. Books Wingbeats & Heartbeats 134 ‘Snake-breaking’ clinics in which experts use live, defanged rattlesnakes..to teach dogs to avoid snakes.
2. figurative. Rendered harmless or ineffectual; (also) bland, watered-down.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > [adjective] > safe or not dangerous > safe or harmless
unshathyOE
unbalefulOE
unscathefulc1175
unscathelya1400
unscathing1437
unnoyingc1440
unshendingc1450
unnoyous1483
harmless1533
unharmful1538
unhurtful1549
dintless1558
white1567
offenceless1581
inoffensive1598
unhurting1613
illaesive1628
innocuous1631
unmalignant1633
innoxious1638
inobnoxious1659
unvenomous1659
innocent1662
unafflictinga1711
unmolesting1767
fangless1790
unharming1796
woundless1796
uninjurious1809
uninjuring1820
unmischievous1821
scarless1823
boltless1832
inoffending1853
defanged1920
non-injury1926
anodyne1933
declawed1945
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [adjective] > wearisome or tedious > bland or insipid
colourlessc1425
unsavouryc1449
wearish?1533
wersha1599
tasteless1603
tame1604
juiceless1620
water gruela1627
dry1632
soulless1632
frigid1643
vapid1656
insipida1684
fade1715
heartless1780
vapid1785
achromatic1799
sauceless1817
albuminous1858
antiseptic1891
flat-footed1899
unatmospheric1913
defanged1920
anodyne1933
spiceless1942
tea-party1961
nothingburger1965
1920 Boston Sunday Post 4 July 32/7 Wilhelm II..has..the defanged, shorn, helpless, introspective stare of the defeated monarch.
1943 Atlanta Constit. 4 June 3/2 Howell has a truckful of defanged mines, booby traps, flares, rockets, grenades, scare whistles and other devices.
1957 Los Angeles Sentinel 9 May a7/2 Since employment problems for Negroes in Bakersfield are acute, to say the least,..a defanged FEPC [= Fair Employment Practice Committee] ordinance..adds insult to already injured feelings.
1994 C. Paglia Vamps & Tramps 80 Music in too many women's bars is bland, defanged disco, with a monotonous tick-tock beat ideal for bad dancers.
2015 Guardian (Nexis) 2 Apr. It was with relief that Cameron..moved away from his tormenter to take defanged questions from the audience.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1899