Synonym Chooser

How is the word intact distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of intact are entire, perfect, and whole. While all these words mean "not lacking or faulty in any particular," intact implies retention of perfection of a thing in its natural or original state.

the boat survived the storm intact

When might entire be a better fit than intact?

While in some cases nearly identical to intact, entire implies perfection deriving from integrity, soundness, or completeness of a thing.

the entire Beethoven corpus

In what contexts can perfect take the place of intact?

The words perfect and intact can be used in similar contexts, but perfect implies the soundness and the excellence of every part, element, or quality of a thing frequently as an unattainable or theoretical state.

a perfect set of teeth

When would whole be a good substitute for intact?

The words whole and intact are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, whole suggests a completeness or perfection that can be sought, gained, or regained.

felt like a whole person again after vacation

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of intact Creating boundaries is vital to keep your relationships intact, Capricorn. Lisa Stardust, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025 Steak is sourced from grass-fed, regenerative farms to keep Sweetgreen’s sustainability ethos intact. Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025 When Nelson travels to pockets of the natural world that remain (more or less) intact, the results are not all that different. Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025 Now, Shakira’s waves appear structured and intact; however, she’s come to favor a blowout aesthetic, too. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intact
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intact
Adjective
  • The sprint is underway for us at the Free Press to bring these stories to life and introduce our readers to the standout athletes and communities across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and the entire state.
    Freep.com, Freep.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The Old Farmer's Almanac is also predicting a warm and dry fall season for the entire state.
    Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But Democrats continue to escalate the matter, and the whole thing has become a farce for Republicans, Democrats and the state.
    Nicole Russell, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
  • This demands that merchants immerse themselves in the whole person: their needs, their desires, their and their world.
    Jill Standish, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • In a separate report, The Information said regulators in China have ordered major tech companies, including ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent, to suspend Nvidia chip purchases until a national security review is complete.
    Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The new early-stage studies for NASA should be complete by mid-September.
    Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Ukrainian officials rejected this position, stating that Ukraine did not initiate the conflict and that only the Russian president has the authority to order a full military withdrawal.
    Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Many girls bring rush bags from house to house full of the essentials — mints, bobby pins, dry shampoo, hairspray, oil blotting sheets, perfume, fans, portable phone chargers, Advil, floss and deodorant.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • From that perspective, hosting the draw in Las Vegas would have been perfect.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
  • While the Play Store is still not perfect, Google claims apps sideloaded from outside its store are 50 times more likely to contain malware.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather than sending resumes alone, Alexander Executive Search provides a comprehensive candidate briefing pack.
    William Jones, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Việt's comprehensive sweep across multiple spirits types, ages and rarities demonstrates both the breadth and depth of his interest and commitment.
    Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intact. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on intact

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!