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
in-ˈtak(t)-nəs How to pronounce intact (audio)
noun

Synonyms of intact

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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.
Instead, Susan personally absorbed the entire $175,000 while the estate remained intact and was divided between her and her stepson. — Stacy Francis, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 If things actually click and bodies stay mostly intact, this could be both a top-10 offense and a top-10 defense. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 Environmental concerns in Boyle Heights, shrinking enrollment and immigration anxieties deepen the uncertainty, even as test scores rise and key programs stay intact this year. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 Space enthusiasts have been following the thrilling saga ever since the 171-foot tall section of the rocket that flies in space, known as the upper stage, landed intact in the Indian Ocean. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Aug. 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

Rhymes for intact

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Browse Nearby Words

intabulation
intact
intagliated
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Cite this Entry

“Intact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intact. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on intact

Nglish: Translation of intact for Spanish Speakers

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