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 Creating boundaries is vital to keep your relationships intact, Capricorn. Lisa Stardust, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025 Steak is sourced from grass-fed, regenerative farms to keep Sweetgreen’s sustainability ethos intact. Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025 When Nelson travels to pockets of the natural world that remain (more or less) intact, the results are not all that different. Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025 Now, Shakira’s waves appear structured and intact; however, she’s come to favor a blowout aesthetic, too. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intact
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intact
Adjective
  • Doors close for the duration of the flight, so plan on staying for the entire 90-minute window.
    Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • The Old Farmer's Almanac is also predicting a warm and dry fall season for the entire state.
    Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The Huskies have the whole package in Hess, who is expected to be more offensive-minded this season.
    Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Now the Trump administration is rolling back a whole suite of policies designed to promote EVs, including ending these tax credits.
    Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • According to The Wall Street Journal, the main house has five bedrooms and is complete with mountain views.
    Kaycee Sloan, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Where The Last Mile Breaks Brands often assume that once the package leaves the warehouse, the customer journey is complete.
    Brandon Batchelor, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The Mountaineers’ offense was on full display, and the senior was a part of the show.
    Emma Moon, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Meanwhile, investors are also still waiting to see the full impact of Trump's sweeping tariffs on the broader economy.
    Maria Aspan, NPR, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • From that perspective, hosting the draw in Las Vegas would have been perfect.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
  • While the Play Store is still not perfect, Google claims apps sideloaded from outside its store are 50 times more likely to contain malware.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather than sending resumes alone, Alexander Executive Search provides a comprehensive candidate briefing pack.
    William Jones, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Roughly 30,000 records in the directory were explicitly marked as nongovernment, but this label was far from comprehensive.
    Pratheek Rebala, ProPublica, 21 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Intact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intact. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on intact

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