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. Maneuver

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

Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

A proportional part or share.

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.


2. Hologram

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.

An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

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


3. Eclectic

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

The arrangement of events in time

The locus of points for which the sum of the distances from each point to two fixed points is equal

Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.


4. Pulverize

Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.

The act of resting or the state of being at rest.


5. Jaunty

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

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

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

Relating to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.


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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.