unprovokable
|un-pro-vo-ka-ble|
🇺🇸
/ˌʌnprəˈvoʊkəbəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌnprəˈvəʊkəbəl/
not able to be provoked
Etymology
'unprovokable' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 'un-' + the adjective 'provokable', where 'un-' meant 'not' and 'provokable' is derived from the verb 'provoke'.
'provoke' changed from Latin 'provocare' into Old French 'provoquer', then into Middle English 'provoken' and modern English 'provoke'; from this came the adjective 'provokable' and later the prefixed form 'unprovokable'.
Initially the Latin root 'provocare' meant 'to call forth' or 'to challenge'; over time 'provoke' shifted toward 'to incite an emotional reaction' and 'unprovokable' now means 'not capable of being provoked'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not able to be provoked; unlikely to become angry, upset, or react to provocation.
Her calm manner was virtually unprovokable, even when people tried to upset her.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/30 06:24