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
The preliminary investigation indicates Allen’s killing was gang-related and unprovoked, police said.
—
Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
Vernon Patton, 72, was mauled in an unprovoked attack by a 70-pound black bear Sept. 3 in Franklin County, McClatchy News previously reported.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
Police in North Carolina have released multiple 911 calls made after 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed on the Charlotte light rail, in which witnesses expressed shock at the unprovoked attack.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Across much of Europe, however, the conflict is viewed as an unprovoked war of aggression that not only marked the deadliest conflict on the continent since World War II, but also the end of complacency on security.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
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Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025
Vernon Patton, 72, was mauled in an unprovoked attack by a 70-pound black bear Sept. 3 in Franklin County, McClatchy News previously reported.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
Police in North Carolina have released multiple 911 calls made after 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed on the Charlotte light rail, in which witnesses expressed shock at the unprovoked attack.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
Across much of Europe, however, the conflict is viewed as an unprovoked war of aggression that not only marked the deadliest conflict on the continent since World War II, but also the end of complacency on security.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 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 25 Oct. 2025.
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