Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ADVERSE

DEFINITION:
Having a negative or harmful effect on something.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
There was no evidence of “any adverse or harmful chemical or other exposures,” he wrote.
The Boston Herald, 06/15/2026

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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. Despondent

Being without or almost without hope

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

A drawing consisting of the outline of something, especially a human profile, filled in with a solid color.

A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.


2. Tariff

A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

A schedule of prices or fees.

A proportional part or share.


3. Bizarre

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.

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

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


4. Typhoon

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

To take in by elaborate methods of deceit

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

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night


5. Rainforest

A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.

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

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

Self-examination.


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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.