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unprovoking

unprovoking

6.6
Not likely to cause a strong reaction
  • adjective
  • /ʌnprəˈvoʊkɪŋ/
translation icon : no provocador
  • Her remarks were deliberately unprovoking to avoid escalating the argument.

Examples

  • He maintained an unprovoking tone throughout the discussion, keeping the atmosphere calm.

  • The movie’s content was so unprovoking that most viewers lost interest halfway through.

  • This film is unprovoking.

  • Her unprovoking remarks calmed the crowd.

  • He maintained an unprovoking tone throughout the discussion, keeping the atmosphere calm.

  • Her remarks were deliberately unprovoking to avoid escalating the argument.

  • The movie was so unprovoking that it failed to keep the audience engaged.

Synonyms

uncontroversial
vsunprovoking
6 4.4

Easy for people to accept because few people disagree

avoids causing strong public reactions rather than centering on offense
inoffensive
vsunprovoking
5 3.2

Not likely to upset or annoy people

is about not causing strong reactions yet stresses harmlessness
unexciting
vsunprovoking
3 3.2

Not interesting or exciting

is focused on avoiding strong responses rather than only lacking thrill
undramatic
vsunprovoking
1 4.2

Having no strong emotion and not exciting

focuses on absence of strong reactions instead of only lack of drama
unsensational
vsunprovoking
1 6.0

Calm and not meant to excite or shock people

emphasizes low attention grabbing quality rather than general calmness
unoffensive
vsunprovoking
1 3.7

Something that does not upset people and is harmless

avoids strong responses but highlights being harmless rather than neutral tone
unprovocative
vsunprovoking
6.3

Not likely to cause strong feelings or attract attention

is the broad neutral label for lacking any strong reaction
unstirring
vsunprovoking
7.2

Not causing strong feelings or interest

is about not causing strong reactions rather than mere dullness
unstimulating
vsunprovoking
5.1

Does not interest, excite, or make people feel energetic

is about not causing strong responses rather than lacking challenge
unentertaining
vsunprovoking
4.5

Not interesting to watch, read or listen to

is about not causing strong emotional reaction rather than just boring
nonoffensive
vsunprovoking
3.8

Does not upset people and avoids rude or hurtful words

avoids strong reactions but centers on not causing personal harm

Antonyms

1 4.8

Causing annoyance or anger in someone

1 3.9

To make someone feel more awake and interested

How Provocative

inflammatory
  • Literature
41 7.4
provoking
8 4.2
unprovoking
6.6
neutral
218 3.6
bland
31 2.8

Surface Forms

unprovoking positive

Morphology

unprovoking = provoking (transparent) = un + provoke + ing

Standard negation by 'un-' applied to the participial adjective 'provoking', giving the straightforward meaning 'not causing a reaction'.

Etymology

Unprovoking is made from un- meaning 'not' and provoking, from provoke which means 'to cause a reaction' and is related to words like voice and vocal. So an unprovoking remark is one that 'does not cause a reaction' and helps keep people calm.