none the

1 of 2

phrase (1)

—used in phrases with adjectives such as worse, better, etc., to say that someone or something is not any worse, better, etc., than before

—often + for

We had to change our plans, but we were none the worse for it in the end.

She's been traveling constantly for the past several weeks, but she seems to be none the worse for wear.

The restaurant replaced the lobster with crab and the customers were none the wiser.

(the) worse for wear

2 of 2

phrase (2)

: in worse condition after doing or experiencing something

He came out of basic training only slightly the worse for wear.

The kids emerged from the woods looking none the worse for wear.

Examples of none the in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Phrase

The Thresher and Scorpion had been surveyed, the Soviets were none the wiser, Argo had proven its worth, and after some 73 years in the dark, the Titanic was back in the spotlight. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Aug. 2026

So in classic spy fashion, the group devised secret codes to communicate with one another, hidden in plain sight, so the KGB would be none the wiser — using series of notes embedded in their sheet music. — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

Phrase

McCallister returned later in the first half with a bright orange wrap on her thigh and looked no worse for wear. — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026

In between are a bunch of mongrel appliances that leave both humans and technology worse for wear, like a computer, in a 2024 photo by Sara Deraedt, that seems to be giving birth to a wet child. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026

Video

Is 'none' singular or plural?

Or both? Or neither?