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. Tranquility

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

► Any of various nonplacental mammals, including kangaroos, opossums, bandicoots, and wombats, found principally in Australia and the Americas.

► The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting of sieve tubes, fibers, parenchyma, and sclereids.

► The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

2. Jaunty

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

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

► The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.

► Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

3. Jovial

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

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

► Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

► The main character in a drama or other literary work.

4. Typhoon

► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

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

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

► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

5. Delegate

► A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.

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

► Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.

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

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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.