Question

Choose the correct antonym for the given word.
PACIFY
a- Encourage
b- Devise
c- Incite
d- Cite

Answer 1

Hint: An antonym or an opposite refers to a word that is contrary in meaning to another word. For example- Happy is an antonym for sad. ‘Pacify’ refers to soothing or calming someone.

Complete answer:
 The word ‘pacify’ has been derived from the Latin word- Pac, which means peace.
We know the meaning and the origin of the word ‘pacify’. Now, let’s look at its usage-
For example- The king was advised to pacify the agitated citizens. Here, we can understand that the king was advised to calm or soothe agitated citizens.
Let’s decipher the meaning of the given options-
Option a- ‘Encourage’ refers to motivating or inspiring someone to do something. For example- My mother had encouraged me to take up this job. ‘Encourage’ is different in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option b- ‘Devise’ refers to formulating or coming up with a plan or thought. For example- Our manager devised a plan to enhance unity among the employees. ‘Devise’ is different in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is an incorrect option.
Option c- ‘Incite’ refers to provoking or instigating someone to become angry or violent. For example- The government’s plan was to incite war among the people. ‘Incite’ is the opposite in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is the correct option.
Option d- ‘Cite’ refers to praising or commending someone for a daring act. For example- The soldier has been cited for his endowment in the military field. ‘Cite’ is different in meaning to the given context. Hence, it is an incorrect option. The correct answer is Option ‘c’.

Note:
Some other antonyms of ‘pacify’ are; enrage, provoke, inflame, etc while some synonyms of ‘pacify’ are; calm, tranquilize, soothe, etc.