largely unscathed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "largely unscathed" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means that something or someone has remained mostly undamaged or unaffected by a specific event or situation. Example: Despite the storm's destructive path, the small town was largely unscathed, with only a few fallen branches and minimal power outages.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Karans' property came through largely unscathed.

The New Yorker

The sanctuary, he said, remained largely unscathed.

The New York Times

The supply side is largely unscathed.

The Economist

He emerged from the investigation largely unscathed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Rubin, however, has emerged largely unscathed.

The New York Times

Depositors have come through the financial crisis largely unscathed.

The Economist

Canada has come through the crisis largely unscathed.

The Economist

However, Abramson emerged largely unscathed from the controversy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite the turmoil, stock prices ended largely unscathed on Thursday.

The New York Times

The Israeli economy, including its banking system, emerged largely unscathed.

The Economist

Mr Chen, the man who matters, will escape largely unscathed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "largely unscathed" to convey that something has avoided major damage or negative consequences, but don't imply it's entirely untouched. For instance, "The company emerged from the recession largely unscathed, though a few departments faced minor budget cuts."

Common error

Avoid using "largely unscathed" when something has suffered significant damage. This phrase implies minimal impact, so ensure it aligns with the reality of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largely unscathed" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the extent to which something has avoided damage or harm. The adverb "largely" modifies the adjective "unscathed", indicating that the subject is mostly, but not completely, free from harm. This is supported by Ludwig, which provides numerous examples of its use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "largely unscathed" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression that indicates something has emerged from a potentially harmful situation with minimal damage. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an adverbial modifier. It conveys reassurance and resilience. Its neutral register and frequent appearance in news and media, alongside encyclopedias and scientific publications, demonstrate its widespread applicability. While the phrase is widely accepted, it's important to avoid overstating the degree of safety or preservation. Alternatives like "mostly unharmed" or "generally unaffected" may be considered for nuanced expression. Overall, "largely unscathed" is a valuable addition to one's vocabulary, offering a concise way to communicate that something has avoided significant harm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely undamaged

A direct synonym, but emphasizes the lack of damage more directly.

mostly unharmed

Focuses on the absence of harm rather than the degree of damage avoided.

generally unaffected

Emphasizes lack of impact or influence from an event or situation.

fairly unaffected

Similar to generally unaffected, this stresses the degree of impact.

relatively untouched

Highlights a comparison to other things that experienced more significant damage.

substantially intact

Focuses on the degree to which something remains complete or whole.

for the most part safe

Emphasizes the overall safety while allowing for minor exceptions.

primarily safe

Highlights the state of safety as the primary outcome.

considerably preserved

Emphasizes the act of maintaining something in its original state.

materially unimpaired

More formal and emphasizes the lack of significant functional decline.

FAQs

How can I use "largely unscathed" in a sentence?

Use "largely unscathed" to describe something that has passed through a potentially damaging event with minimal harm. For example, "The building remained "largely unscathed" despite the nearby explosion".

What are some alternatives to "largely unscathed"?

You can use alternatives like "mostly unharmed", "generally unaffected", or "relatively untouched" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say 'completely unscathed' instead of "largely unscathed"?

While 'completely unscathed' is also grammatically correct, it implies that something is entirely untouched, whereas "largely unscathed" suggests minimal but potentially present damage.

What's the difference between "largely unscathed" and "slightly damaged"?

"Largely unscathed" implies minimal damage, suggesting that something has mostly avoided harm. Conversely, "slightly damaged" indicates that some degree of damage has occurred, even if minor.