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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
Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
Many giant oaks, conifers, sycamore and eucalyptus towered over empty, broken lots, apparently unscathed.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Calabasas boys soccer continues tear After dropping its season opener, Calabasas boys soccer has been unscathed.
—Justin Vigil Zuniga, Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
His tenure was controversial, but his reputation emerged relatively unscathed.
—Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unscathed
Cite this Entry
“Unscathed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unscathed. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unscathed
adjective
