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 Elementary 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. element

Having an unvarying tone or pitch

Capable of doing many things competently

One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.

The line that bounds a circle or other two-dimensional figure.


2. bluff

Paying attention; noticing, watching, listening, or attending closely.

Dependent on each other

Sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.

An attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something.


3. uncanny

Exceptional, conspicuous, outstanding, most usually in a negative fashion.

Strange or mysterious, esp. in an unsettling way

The smaller number or part, esp. a number that is less than half the whole number

To sink or fall to the bottom; to settle


4. similar

Having traits or characteristics in common; alike, comparable.

The act of exasperating or the state of being exasperated; irritation; keen or bitter anger.

Important with regards to (a subject or matter); relevant

A large or dense group of insects, esp. flying ones.


5. counter

A large or dense group of insects, esp. flying ones.

The force or energy of a collision of two objects.

A long flat-topped fixture in a store or bank across which business is conducted with customers.

To cause to take physical form, or to cause an object to appear.


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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.