unprovoked

/'ʌnprə'voukt/

Thân thiện

The dog gave an unprovoked bark at the passing cat.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not caused by any prior action or justification; occurring without motivation or provocation: Describes an action, especially an aggressive or hostile one, that is initiated without any apparent reason, cause, or incitement from the target.

Usage

• The adjective "unprovoked" is used to characterize an action, typically an attack, aggression, or negative behavior, as being entirely without cause. It emphasizes the innocence of the recipient and the baseless nature of the act.
• It often modifies nouns like "attack," "aggression," "violence," or "anger."

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The victim suffered an unprovoked assault while walking home.
  • Her unprovoked criticism left everyone in the room confused.
  • The nation condemned the unprovoked military invasion.

Advanced Usage

• "seemingly unprovoked": Used to describe an action that appears to have no cause, though a hidden motive might exist.
  • His seemingly unprovoked outburst was actually due to immense stress.
• "completely/totally/utterly unprovoked": Intensifiers used to stress the absolute lack of provocation.
  • The violence was completely unprovoked.

Variants and Related Words

• Unprovokedly (adverb): In an unprovoked manner. (Note: This is a rare formation.)
• Provoked (adjective): The direct antonym, meaning incited or caused by a prior action.
• Gratuitous (adjective): Similar in meaning, often describing something uncalled for or unjustified, but can apply more broadly (e.g., gratuitous violence in a film).

Synonyms

• Motiveless: Lacking a discernible reason or motive.
• Wantonly: (Adverb) In a deliberate and unprovoked way; maliciously.
• Gratuitous: Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted.

Antonyms

• Provoked: Caused or incited.
• Justified: Having a sound, fair, or reasonable cause.
• Retaliatory: Done in response to a prior harmful action.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Out of the blue": This idiom describes something sudden and unexpected, similar to an unprovoked event, but it is not exclusively negative.
  • The news of his resignation came out of the blue.
• "Without rhyme or reason": Lacking any logical explanation, which can describe an unprovoked action.
  • His decision seemed without rhyme or reason.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. occurring without motivation or provocation
   • motiveless malignity
   • unprovoked and dastardly attack- F.D.Roosevelt

Từ đồng nghĩa

• motiveless
• wanton