Antonyms — Identify the option that is the closest opposite in meaning to ‘‘PROVOCATION’’ (stimulus to anger vs. calming/soothing response).

Given data

• Noun: PROVOCATION = action/speech that incites anger or reaction
• Options: Vocation; Pacification; Peace; Destruction

Concept/ApproachThe antonym should denote calming or appeasing. ‘‘Pacification’’ means the act of pacifying, appeasing, or bringing peace, which directly opposes provoking.

ReasoningProvocation (stir up) ↔ Pacification (calm down).‘‘Peace’’ is a state, not an action; the opposite process term is better captured by ‘‘pacification’’.‘‘Vocation’’ (profession) and ‘‘Destruction’’ (ruin) are semantically unrelated.

Final AnswerPacification