unscathed

adjective

un·​scathed ˌən-ˈskāt͟hd 

: wholly unharmed : not injured

Did you know?

Can you be scathed instead of unscathed?

We often hear of a person coming through some difficult circumstance, or dangerous endeavor, and “emerging unscathed,” yet we rarely hear of anyone “emerging scathed.” Why is this? Scathe is a word: it may function as a noun (“harm, injury”) or as a verb (“to do harm to,” “to assail with withering denunciation”). It is not as commonly found as it once was, and now primarily serves as the basis for the adjective scathing (“bitterly severe”) or for the latter portion of unscathed. So you can say that someone “emerged scathed” if you wish, but be advised that it will have a curiously archaic sound to it.

Examples of unscathed in a Sentence

She escaped from the wreckage unscathed.

The administration was left relatively unscathed by the scandal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Alyn and Addam and Baela and Corlys are all mostly unscathed. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

That does not mean, however, that Sincere has escaped unscathed. — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 29 June 2026

The reverend emerged unscathed — physically, at least. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026

Stocks recovered, and the American economy emerged unscathed by the market crash. — Paul Wiseman, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unscathed

• bathed

Kids Definition

unscathed

adjective

un·​scathed ˌən-ˈskāt͟hd 

ˈən-

: completely unharmed : not injured