English Reference
Adjective

unscathed

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ənˈskeɪðd/ UK /ʌnskˈeɪðd/ un·scathed

adj.not damaged or hurt at all. You use this to describe someone or something that came through a dangerous situation without any problems.

adj.not damaged, injured, or harmed. Often used in the passive voice to describe a person or object that has survived a difficult or dangerous event.


SIMPLE

The car came out of the accident unscathed.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite the heavy storm, the old house remained unscathed and stood tall on the hill.

COMPLEX

The diplomat returned to the capital unscathed after a tense negotiation, though his reputation had suffered a minor scratch from the public criticism.

Decades of climate change have not left Europe's mountain vegetation unscathed.

Phys.org· 14 Aug 2026

Buildings that appear unscathed after a nearby fire may still be unsafe.

The Conversation· 11 Aug 2026

From un- + scathed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated