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unprovoked

pro·voke
U u

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [pruh-vohk]
    • /prəˈvoʊk/
    • /ˌʌn.prəˈvəʊkt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [pruh-vohk]
    • /prəˈvoʊk/

Definitions of unprovoked word

  • verb with object unprovoked to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex. 1
  • verb with object unprovoked to stir up, arouse, or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity): The mishap provoked a hearty laugh. 1
  • verb with object unprovoked to incite or stimulate (a person, animal, etc.) to action. 1
  • verb with object unprovoked to give rise to, induce, or bring about: What could have provoked such an incident? 1
  • verb with object unprovoked Obsolete. to summon. 1
  • adjective unprovoked not prompted 1

Information block about the term

Origin of unprovoked

First appearance:

before 1400
One of the 24% oldest English words
1400-50; late Middle English < Latin prōvocāre to call forth, challenge, provoke, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + vocāre to call; akin to vōx voice

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Unprovoked

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

unprovoked popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 91% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

unprovoked usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for unprovoked

adj unprovoked

  • accidentally on purpose — Deliberately, though apparently accidentally.
  • causeless — a person or thing that acts, happens, or exists in such a way that some specific thing happens as a result; the producer of an effect: You have been the cause of much anxiety. What was the cause of the accident?
  • gratuitous — given, done, bestowed, or obtained without charge or payment; free; voluntary.
  • groundless — without rational basis: groundless fears.
  • motiveless — something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive.

adjective unprovoked

  • foundationless — Without foundation; unfounded.
  • justification — a reason, fact, circumstance, or explanation that justifies or defends: His insulting you was ample justification for you to leave the party.
  • wanton — done, shown, used, etc., maliciously or unjustifiably: a wanton attack; wanton cruelty.

Antonyms for unprovoked

adjective unprovoked

  • grounded — the solid surface of the earth; firm or dry land: to fall to the ground.

Top questions with unprovoked

  • what does unprovoked mean?

See also

Matching words

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