nonprovocative
Unlikely to offend
Nonprovocative describes something unlikely to provoke anger, hostility, or strong reaction.
The word appears most often in military and diplomatic contexts, where nonprovocative postures or actions are designed to avoid escalating tensions: The troops maintained a nonprovocative stance along the border.
In everyday use, it suggests deliberately mild or inoffensive behavior.
Calm, undisturbed
- unruffledEmotionally undisturbed, placid
- composedCalm and self-possessed
- sereneUntroubled and composed
- tranquilCalm and untroubled
peaceful · soothing · gentle · quiet · understated · subdued · mellow · soft
Causing no injury
- innocuousCausing no harm
- unobjectionableCausing no disapproval
- benignNot harmful or threatening
- unoffendingNot causing displeasure
safe · tame · uncontroversial · acceptable · palatable · agreeable · tolerable · decorous
Showing no preference
- objectivePurpose or goal
- balancedIn a state of equilibrium
- unbiasedFree from prejudice
- dispassionateFree from emotional involvement
detached · nonpartisan · evenhanded · disinterested · uninvolved · uncommitted · noncommittal · fence-sitting
placid
Calm, undisturbed
- unruffledEmotionally undisturbed, placid
- composedCalm and self-possessed
- sereneUntroubled and composed
tranquil · peaceful · soothing · gentle · quiet · understated · subdued · mellow · soft · restrained
harmless
Causing no injury
- innocuousCausing no harm
- unobjectionableCausing no disapproval
- benignNot harmful or threatening
unoffending · safe · tame · uncontroversial · acceptable · palatable · agreeable · tolerable · decorous · appropriate
impartial
Showing no preference
dispassionate · detached · nonpartisan · evenhanded · disinterested · uninvolved · uncommitted · noncommittal · fence-sitting · middle-ground
nonprovocativeprovocative
Meant to provoke response
inflammatory · incendiary · inciting · agitating · antagonizing
nonprovocativeprovocative
Meant to provoke response
seductive · alluring · sexy · suggestive · risqué
nonprovocativethought-provoking
Prompting serious reflection
provocative · challenging · stimulating · controversial · edgy
provoke, provoked, provokes, provoking, provocation, provocations, provocative, provocatively, provocateur