Definition of intactnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word intact distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of intact are entire, perfect, and whole. While all these words mean "not lacking or faulty in any particular," intact implies retention of perfection of a thing in its natural or original state.

the boat survived the storm intact

When might entire be a better fit than intact?

While in some cases nearly identical to intact, entire implies perfection deriving from integrity, soundness, or completeness of a thing.

the entire Beethoven corpus

In what contexts can perfect take the place of intact?

The words perfect and intact can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When would whole be a good substitute for intact?

The words whole and intact are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, whole suggests a completeness or perfection that can be sought, gained, or regained.

felt like a whole person again after vacation

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of intact Many voters who support more liberal leaders still want to keep the death penalty intact. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 De Palma kept most of the novel’s key scenes intact in his adaptation, with a few changes. — ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 Over the years, volunteers have salvaged everything from nearly intact kitchens (though this is increasingly rare) to individual cabinets and fittings, adding them to the collection. — Tara Anne Dalbow, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026 Size is another hurdle, since PDRN molecules are fairly large and may have trouble passing through intact skin far enough to do their job, Romanowski noted. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intact
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intact
Adjective
  • Charlotte was down by 35 points after three quarters, and the entire fourth quarter amounted to garbage time.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
  • One of them is José Antonio Bañuelos-Díaz, 42, who applied for citizenship in October 2025 after living in the country for 40 years and spending his entire adult life as a legal permanent resident.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The whole idea is for Israel to keep fighting, because endless wars serve Netanyahu to maintain… a constant state of emergency.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The whole joke is that Chandler is really bad at posing for photos.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Ethiopia’s coffee authority is compiling data, but the process is not complete.
    — Damian Zane, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In practice, that can look like AI pulling together updates from ticketing systems, documentation, source control and incident platforms to give teams a more complete view of progress and risk.
    — Joel Burleson-Davis, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The full report says 12% of the scams reported in the survey involved AI or a deepfake.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some Ukrainian officials told the newspaper that the system had not been restored to full functionality but was working at higher speeds than under the cap.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The loss spelled the end of the Chiefs’ perfect 5-0 start to the season.
    — Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Sheet cake recipes are the easiest way to feed dessert to a crowd, meaning this recipe is perfect for the holidays.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • In addition to this, more comprehensive work looking into how natto appears to improve bone health has made this avenue of research particularly interesting.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026
  • This made the discovery more comprehensive, but almost made clear that the flaw was more serious than Calif had originally realized, an OpenAI spokesperson told Fortune.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intact. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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