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. Ultraviolet

A rebirth or revival.

To condescend to give or grant

A proportional part or share.

Of or relating to the range of invisible radiation wavelengths from about 4 nanometers, on the border of the x-ray region, to about 380 nanometers, just beyond the violet in the visible spectrum.


2. Participle

A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus

Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

A form of a verb that in some languages, such as English, can function independently as an adjective.


3. Vertebrate

Having a backbone or spinal column.

One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.

To cringe in fear

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.


4. Formidable

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.


5. Marsupial

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

A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.

Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.


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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.