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.
Stocchetto’s son Maurizio, the current owner, marked the 50th anniversary with a light refurbishment but one that kept the vintage backbone intact, from the brocades and mirrors to the marble floor and dark wood panels. — Jaclyn Degiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 Several portions of the plane were relatively intact when archaeologists recovered them from the crash site. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 And, even more luckily for the rest of us, some of the footage from their 007 screen tests has survived intact and leaked onto the internet. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 Many voters who support more liberal leaders still want to keep the death penalty intact. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 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
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