Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PLOY

DEFINITION:
A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
“First of all, I think it’s important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” said the 44th president, conceding that it does serve as an effective distraction and ploy for attention.
The Boston Herald, 02/16/2026

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Words in the News Quiz
5 Middle School Words

Click on the correct answer in the quiz below.
Then see if you can find the word in your newspaper -- the print edition, the website or the digital edition and copy the sentence for context. NOTE: High School words are much harder to find!


1. Hieroglyphic

One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.

A schedule of prices or fees.

Relating to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.

To have a great ambition or ultimate goal


2. Eclectic

An intricate structure of interconnecting passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze.

Any of various nonplacental mammals, including kangaroos, opossums, bandicoots, and wombats, found principally in Australia and the Americas.

Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles

Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.


3. Strategy

The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

Appropriateness of behavior or conduct

An embankment built to prevent flooding

The science and art of using all the forces of a nation to execute approved plans as effectively as possible during peace or war.


4. Jaunty

A weather phenomenon in the Eastern Pacific that is precisely equivalent to a hurricane.

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.


5. Spectrum

The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, arranged in order of wavelengths.

The arrangement of events in time

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

A disorderly commotion or disturbance.


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Common Core State Standard
LS.CCS.4/5/6 Grades 3-12: Students are asked to determine the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words through multiple choice vocabulary quizzes. Quizzes are designed to help students demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in words, acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words, and gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression. Students are then asked to find the words within the newspaper and copy the sentence for context to its overall meaning or function in a sentence.