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
In November, a homeless man with mental health problems and a lengthy arrest record was accused of three unprovoked, broad daylight stabbings on the streets of Manhattan that left two men and a woman dead.
—
Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Key Background Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was killed in an unprovoked attack on a commuter rail in Charlotte, North Carolina, in August.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Parties involved in the argument were leaving the indoor amusement park when Reed assaulted an employee, unprovoked, while making his way outside.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
The criminal justice system knew Decarlos Brown long before he was accused of fatally stabbing Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, in an unprovoked attack on a Charlotte, North Carolina, train in August.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
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Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
Key Background Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was killed in an unprovoked attack on a commuter rail in Charlotte, North Carolina, in August.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Parties involved in the argument were leaving the indoor amusement park when Reed assaulted an employee, unprovoked, while making his way outside.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
The criminal justice system knew Decarlos Brown long before he was accused of fatally stabbing Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, in an unprovoked attack on a Charlotte, North Carolina, train in August.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 11 Sep. 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 19 Sep. 2025.
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