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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The Biden administration, in conjunction with the U.S.'s European allies, made clear that Russia violated international laws by launching an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025 In a major victory for Moscow even before Ukraine talks have begun, the U.S. president has abandoned a core element of the allied response to Mr. Putin’s unprovoked war: isolating Russia and excluding it from the top table of world diplomacy. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2025 Ukraine and its allies denounced it as an unprovoked act of aggression. Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025 The moments in nature aren’t simply interludes in the film but subtly communicate all that is being lost to Russia’s unprovoked aggression. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 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 5 Mar. 2025.

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