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

Seconds after the unprovoked attack, Mercedes walked out of the McDonald’s and was quickly apprehended by police, who spotted him still holding the knife, Tierney said. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026

According to police sources, words were exchanged between the two men, who did not know each other, but the attack was largely unprovoked. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

The United Arab Emirates in a statement called on Iran to stop the unprovoked strikes. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

During the late-July All-Star break, Carrington took to Threads to launch a spontaneous, unprovoked attack on her ex-girlfriend, Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unprovoked

• choked
• cloaked
• coked
• croaked
• joked
• poked
• smoked
• soaked
• stoked
• stroked
• yoked
• convoked