Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

SUREFIRE

DEFINITION:
Certain or likely, especially to succeed.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Kirby taught himself how to count cards, a surefire way to get barred from gambling at a casino, “raking in money on trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas,” the article stated.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal, 05/04/2026

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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. Embargo

A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation

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

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

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


2. Flourish

A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

To move back or away from a limit, point, or mark


3. Yacht

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

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

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

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


4. Toxin

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

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

Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

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


5. Plateau

An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.

A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

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


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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.