Choose the correct Antonym of the underlined word :

Due to the hijack, the staff was in a state of calm.

panic

The correct answer is OPTION 2 : panic.

Panic is the direct opposite of calm. It describes a state of extreme fear and anxiety, which would be expected in a hijacking situation.

• Restraint doesn't directly contrast with calm. It implies self-control, which could be present even in a calm state.
• Dismay suggests disappointment or disapproval, not necessarily the opposite of calm.
• Dread refers to a feeling of apprehension or fear about the future, not the opposite of calm in the present moment.