unprovoked

adjective un·pro·voked \ ˌən-prə-ˈvōkt \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of unprovoked

: occurring without any identifiable cause or justification : not provoked

an unprovoked assault/attack

unprovoked anger

Recent Examples of unprovoked from the Web

The martial arts move – like one would see in an action movie – was executed flawlessly Monday in downtown Los Angeles after the transient went after a man walking his dog in an unprovoked attack, Los Angeles police told Fox 11.

— greg norman, Fox News, "Video shows bystander taking out violent homeless man with impressive flying kick," 27 June 2018
There were only 88 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide in 2017, with five fatalities (zero in the U.S.).

— jacqueline detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "How To Start Surfing," 27 June 2018
While bears have killed people in the mountains of Tennessee this century, no unprovoked attacks on humans in North Carolina have been recorded, the agency says.

— bruce henderson, charlotteobserver, "A bear spooked shoppers in Charlotte. It's the latest in a string of sightings.," 27 June 2018
According to the wildlife commission, the likelihood of a Florida resident being seriously injured during an unprovoked alligator incident in Florida is roughly only 1 in 3.2 million.

— CBS News, "Homeowner's association sent alligator warning days before deadly attack," 11 June 2018
After a two-week trial, Mr. St. Hubert, 31, was found guilty last month of killing Prince Joshua Avitto, 6, and of nearly killing Mikayla Capers, then 7, in a prolonged and unprovoked attack in an elevator of the Boulevard Houses in East New York.

— alan feuer, New York Times, "Killer Sentenced to Maximum Term for Elevator Stabbing Death of 6-Year-Old," 22 May 2018
In this country, unprovoked attacks by alligators and especially deaths by alligator attack are almost wholly absent outside of Florida.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "Wildlife is wild, so admire from afar," 13 June 2018
Police believe O'Neal, 33, randomly attacked five men in unprovoked confrontations starting on May 2 through May 5.

— bryan alexander, USA TODAY, "Police accuse Redmond O'Neal of violent crime spree, knife attacks," 9 June 2018
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, the state has averaged five unprovoked alligator bites yearly since 1948.

— ralph ellis, konstantin toropin and sal sendik, CNN, "Alligator may have bitten, killed woman in Florida, authorities say," 8 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unprovoked.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.