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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
Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
France ultimately emerged unscathed in St Gallen, making the 15-kilometre trek back to Heiden with a 4-1 victory and a likely last-16 berth in tow.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
The rookie managed to escape unscathed, however, striking out Ty France and forcing Vazquez into an inning-ending double play.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 29 July 2025
The points marking each event are widespread, with only a few states escaping unscathed.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unscathed
Cite this Entry
“Unscathed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unscathed. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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unscathed
adjective
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