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. Vacillate

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

► A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).

► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

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

2. Guru

► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

► A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

► Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.

► A schedule of prices or fees.

3. Outrageous

► A schedule of prices or fees.

► Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd

► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

► A disorderly commotion or disturbance.

4. Labyrinth

► Sharing the same opinions or views; being in complete harmony or accord.

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

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

► Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline

5. Omnivore

► A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

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

► Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

► One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.

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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.