unprovoked
adjective
un·pro·voked
ˌən-prə-ˈvōkt 
: 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
Graham advises calling a vet if a rabbit suddenly starts to demonstrate unprovoked aggression in a previously gentle rabbit.
—
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Dogs that are off leash and get between a bear and their escape route, their food, or their cubs will cause this reaction — this was not an unprovoked attack, and hunting bears would not have prevented it.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
But Dominguez said Smith pepper-sprayed his client in an unprovoked attack.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 26 June 2025
The unprovoked attack happened around 11 p.m. Saturday at the fast food restaurant, located at 13550 Southwest 152nd Street, the sheriff’s office said.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unprovoked
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Dogs that are off leash and get between a bear and their escape route, their food, or their cubs will cause this reaction — this was not an unprovoked attack, and hunting bears would not have prevented it.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
But Dominguez said Smith pepper-sprayed his client in an unprovoked attack.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 26 June 2025
The unprovoked attack happened around 11 p.m. Saturday at the fast food restaurant, located at 13550 Southwest 152nd Street, the sheriff’s office said.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unprovoked
Cite this Entry
“Unprovoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unprovoked. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share