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"Unscathed" vs. "unharmed": subtle shades of safety

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 30/09/2024, 14:58

English.me team member

Unscathed and unharmed. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words imply being not affected negatively or remaining intact after a potentially harmful event.

What is different?

Unscathed often conveys a physical or metaphorical sense of no damage, while unharmed emphasizes the absence of physical injury.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for unscathed) and unharmed

Examples of usage

Unscathed

The car was found unscathed after the storm.
Despite the harsh criticism, she emerged from the meeting unscathed.

Unharmed

The hikers were found unharmed after spending the night in the woods.
The puppy was unharmed despite the fall.