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. Hologram

To abstain from or act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion

A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.

Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.

The pattern produced on a photosensitive medium that has been exposed by holography and then photographically developed.


2. Light-Year

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.

The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.


3. Mosaic

To proclaim publicly

The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

A picture or decorative design made by setting small colored pieces, as of stone or tile, into a surface.

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


4. Voracious

The method or result of concealing personnel or equipment from an enemy by making them appear to be part of the natural surroundings

Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

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


5. Eclectic

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

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

Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.

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


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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.