Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

INCARCERATED

DEFINITION:
Confined in a jail or prison.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is restricting access to rehabilitative programming for incarcerated people as it clamps down on overtime spending before the end of its financial year.
The Los Angeles Times, 06/29/2026

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Words in the News Quiz
5 High 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. Filibuster

To abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority.

The use of obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speechmaking, for the purpose of delaying legislative action.

Full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning.

Tumultuous; stormy.


2. Facetious

Cheerfully confident; optimistic.

Characterized by forcefulness of expression or intensity of emotion or conviction; fervid.

Playfully jocular; humorous

The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended.


3. Contradiction

A dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself or reveals his or her thoughts without addressing a listener.

Logical incongruity

To certify or attest to (the validity of a signature on a document, for example) as a notary public.

Impossible to dispute; unquestionable


4. Usurp

The science and technology of building electronic circuits and devices from single atoms and molecules.

To seize another’s place, authority, or possession wrongfully.

To modify, as by shortening or simplifying or by skewing the content in a certain manner.

To make an accusation against.


5. Hypotenuse

Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight.

To endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote.

The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle.

Eating and drinking in moderation.


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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.