unprovoked

adjective

un·​pro·​voked ˌən-prə-ˈvōkt How to pronounce unprovoked (audio)
: occurring without any identifiable cause or justification : not provoked
an unprovoked assault/attack
unprovoked anger

Examples of unprovoked in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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One need only note the widening acceptance of the absurd lie that Ukraine is at fault for the unprovoked Russian invasion of its land or that NATO has been the historical aggressor. Michael Miklaucic, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025 The unprovoked attacks on ships in the Suez region by Houthis are clearly wrong, and the U.S. has justifiably retaliated in order to defend our interests. Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025 Punch, an extraordinary study of a young man who landed a fatal blow on James Hodgkinson, a trainee paramedic during an unprovoked attack, and the consequences thereafter, will become that rare instance of productions of the same play opening simultaneously in the West End and on Broadway. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025 Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian troops and civilians, as well as Russian soldiers, have been wounded or killed in the fighting that began in 2022 when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unprovoked

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unprovoked was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Unprovoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unprovoked. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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