unscathed

adjective

un·​scathed ˌən-ˈskāt͟hd How to pronounce unscathed (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner was greeted rudely by a Shohei Ohtani lead-off double, but Scherzer managed to escape the inning unscathed. Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025 In terms of Paramount’s corporate divisions, CBS Sports has come through recent waves of cutbacks relatively unscathed. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025 Europe has just run its most extreme space weather simulation yet — a scenario so severe that no spacecraft was left unscathed in the exercise. Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2025 Reaves came out of the fight mostly unscathed, but Rempe had to retreat to the Rangers’ dressing room and did not play the rest of the game. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unscathed

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unscathed was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unscathed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unscathed. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

unscathed

adjective
un·​scathed ˌən-ˈskāt͟hd How to pronounce unscathed (audio)
ˈən-
: completely unharmed : not injured

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