intact

adjective

in·​tact in-ˈtakt How to pronounce intact (audio)
Synonyms of intact
1
: untouched especially by anything that harms or diminishes : entire, uninjured
2
of a living body or its parts : having no relevant component removed or destroyed:
a
: physically virginal
b
: not castrated
intactness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for intact

perfect, whole, entire, intact mean not lacking or faulty in any particular.

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

whole suggests a completeness or perfection that can be sought, gained, or regained.

felt like a whole person again after vacation

entire implies perfection deriving from integrity, soundness, or completeness of a thing.

the entire Beethoven corpus

intact implies retention of perfection of a thing in its natural or original state.

the boat survived the storm intact

Examples of intact in a Sentence

The house survived the war intact. After 25 years, their friendship remained intact.
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.
Right-hander Craig Kimbrel then gave up a one-out triple to Mickey Moniak in the bottom of the inning, but retired the next two to keep the save opportunity intact for closer Devin Williams (four saves). Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026 If your credit score is still intact, a balance transfer card with a 0% introductory APR can give you breathing room to pay down principal without interest compounding. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 4 May 2026 The home dates to the 1990s and has been maintained with a light touch rather than heavily renovated, keeping its original character intact. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 May 2026 Core services are being reduced or eliminated, while administrative spending remains largely intact. Rickford Kirton, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for intact

Word History

Etymology

Middle English intacte, from Latin intactus, from in- + tactus, past participle of tangere to touch — more at tangent entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intact was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Intact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intact. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

intact

adjective
in·​tact in-ˈtakt How to pronounce intact (audio)
: untouched especially by anything that harms : not damaged or lessened

Medical Definition

intact

adjective
in·​tact in-ˈtakt How to pronounce intact (audio)
: physically and functionally complete
The sense of smell was intact.
intact cell membranes
specifically, of an animal : not castrated
intactness noun

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