relatively unscathed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively unscathed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that has experienced little harm or damage compared to what might have been expected. Example: "After the storm passed, the small town was relatively unscathed, with only a few fallen branches and minor roof damage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Only Morales appears relatively unscathed.

The Guardian

Other parts were relatively unscathed.

The Guardian

Fortunately, the experiment itself escaped relatively unscathed.

The Economist

Miraculously, the house was relatively unscathed.

The New Yorker

Torrelodones escaped the financial crisis relatively unscathed.

The New York Times

They'll come through this relatively unscathed".

The New York Times

The two executives also emerged relatively unscathed.

The New York Times

Social-protection programmes have survived relatively unscathed.

The Economist

Westchester and Rockland Counties seem relatively unscathed.

The New York Times

Why has North Dakota remained relatively unscathed?

The New York Times

Remarkably, his body survived relatively unscathed.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relatively unscathed" to convey that something or someone has avoided significant harm or damage, especially when other things have suffered more severely.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively unscathed" when describing situations where there is significant damage or harm; the phrase implies a limited negative impact, not a complete absence of it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively unscathed" functions as an adjectival phrase, typically modifying a noun to describe its state after a potentially damaging event. It indicates that the noun in question has experienced less harm than might have been expected or than other comparable entities. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

4%

Science

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjectival phrase "relatively unscathed" is used to describe situations where someone or something has avoided significant harm compared to expectations or other affected entities. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and high usability. It commonly appears in news and media contexts, conveying a sense of limited negative impact. Alternatives such as "largely unaffected" or "mostly unharmed" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired. It's crucial to use the phrase accurately, ensuring that the situation genuinely reflects minimal damage rather than significant harm. The high frequency and consistent usage across authoritative sources underscore its reliability in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly unscathed

Replaces "relatively" with "fairly", indicating a slightly lesser degree of impact.

relatively untouched

Uses "untouched" instead of "unscathed", focusing on the lack of alteration or change.

almost unscathed

Substitutes "relatively" with "almost", suggesting a near-complete avoidance of harm.

relatively unaffected

Employs "unaffected" to highlight the lack of influence or impact from an event.

relatively free

Indicates a state of being mostly without negative consequences or restrictions.

relatively unhurt

Focuses specifically on physical or emotional well-being, suggesting minimal injury.

relatively safe

Highlights the aspect of security and protection from harm.

relatively intact

Emphasizes the preservation of structure or condition, suggesting minimal disruption.

reasonably unscathed

Replaces "relatively" with "reasonably", implying a moderate degree of protection.

largely unaffected

Uses "largely" instead of "relatively", strengthening the sense of minimal impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "relatively unscathed" to describe situations where something or someone has experienced minimal harm compared to what was expected. For example, "Despite the heavy storm, the building remained "relatively unscathed"".

What are some alternatives to saying "relatively unscathed"?

Alternatives include "largely unaffected", "mostly unharmed", or "fairly intact", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "relatively unscathed" to describe something that suffered no damage at all?

While "relatively unscathed" implies minimal damage, it doesn't necessarily mean zero damage. If there's absolutely no damage, consider using phrases like "completely intact" or "totally unharmed" instead.

What's the difference between "relatively unscathed" and "completely unscathed"?

"Relatively unscathed" suggests some minor impact or damage, whereas "completely unscathed" means there was absolutely no harm or damage whatsoever. The former implies a comparison to something that suffered more significantly.