unprovoked
- adjective
- /ʌnprəˈvoʊkt/
- The world today faces unprovoked attacks, random shootings, suicide missions, and genocide.
- an unprovoked attack
- unprovoked aggression
The people of Ukraine are fighting bravely against a brutal and unprovoked Russian invasion.
- The people of Ukraine are fighting bravely against a brutal and unprovoked Russian invasion.
- Real life bank runs are seldom unprovoked.
- In other words, is it unprovoked or is or is it provoked in the way I just described it?
- And it was I and it who made it unfoked, unprovoked invasion of the Ukraine.
Examples
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That was an unprovoked attack.
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It was an unprovoked attack on a ship in international waters.
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Is this unprovoked attack part of some new trend?
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The United States should not limit its regional role to helping Taiwan defend against unprovoked attacks.
Academic text (1996) -
Japan then launched an unprovoked attack against the Soviet Union and was defeated quickly.
Blog text (29) -
These thugs launched an unprovoked attack on us.
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The people of Ukraine are fighting bravely against a brutal and unprovoked Russian invasion.
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We were faced with an act of unprovoked aggression, and we responded as we have responded in times past: With unity, strength, and courage...
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A world in which unprovoked attacks on civilians proliferate is a world of both moral chaos and fundamental insecurity.
Academic text (2002) -
The dog launched an unprovoked attack on the mailman as he walked by.
Synonyms
Not having a good reason or official permission
Not having a good reason for something
Done without reason and without concern for others
Done without being asked
Happening or felt without any clear reason
Happening for no clear reason
Antonyms
How Justified
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Unprovoked starts with un- meaning 'not' and the part provoke comes from the same root as voice, which means 'call' or 'stir up'. So unprovoked describes an action done with no reason or cause, something not 'called out' or 'stirred up' before it happened.