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
Kupfer, 24, an architectural graduate student, was working alone at Croft House in Los Angeles' Hancock Park neighborhood when Smith, a homeless man with a long criminal history, entered the store and stabbed her dozens of times during an unprovoked attack.
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Louis Casiano, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2024
Getty Images Despite its own unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has positioned the war as an existential battle, accusing the West of backing Ukraine in a bid to destroy Russia.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2024
The big picture: Since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the State Department has repeatedly urged Americans to leave Russia, warning the Russian government may target them for detention.
—Jacob Knutson, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024
There were 16 cases of unprovoked shark bites in the state of Florida last year, the report said, with a nationwide total of 36 bites, including two fatalities.
—Sydney Bishop, CNN, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for unprovoked 
Louis Casiano, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2024
Getty Images Despite its own unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has positioned the war as an existential battle, accusing the West of backing Ukraine in a bid to destroy Russia.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2024
The big picture: Since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the State Department has repeatedly urged Americans to leave Russia, warning the Russian government may target them for detention.
—Jacob Knutson, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024
There were 16 cases of unprovoked shark bites in the state of Florida last year, the report said, with a nationwide total of 36 bites, including two fatalities.
—Sydney Bishop, CNN, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for unprovoked
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unprovoked.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Unprovoked.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unprovoked. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.
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