Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ACQUAINTANCE

DEFINITION:
A person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
When photographer Peter Turnley was just 20 years old, an acquaintance from the California Office of Economic Opportunity reached out to him with a question.
The Los Angeles Times, 12/01/2025

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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

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.

Enforced isolation or restriction of free movement imposed to prevent the spread of contagious disease.

A cult or religious movement, a group sharing particular (often unorthodox) political and/or religious beliefs.

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates


2. Malignant

Harmful, malevolent, injurious. Harmfully cancerous.

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

The main character in a drama or other literary work.

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


3. Renegade

The main character in a drama or other literary work.

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

Exceeding the limits of propriety or good manners; improperly forward or bold

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


4. Outrageous

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

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

To cringe in fear


5. Yacht

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

Any of various relatively small sailing or motor-driven vessels used for pleasure cruises or racing.

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

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


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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.