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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Perhaps Trump quite simply does not care or even understand why supporting Ukraine in its efforts to defend itself from the unprovoked invasion is both a correct moral and practical choice. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025 Trump’s order will have a direct impact on Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s unprovoked aggression. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025 Three years ago today, Russia launched its hellish full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an unprovoked assault that has killed and injured more than 40,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the UN. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025 The invasion of Ukraine was entirely unprovoked, and Russia’s actions since the outset—kidnapping thousands of children, bombing hospitals, targeting power plants—have made clear that Putin’s intention is to erase Ukraine from the map. Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 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 22 Mar. 2025.

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