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 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. Chromosome

To divide (a geographic area) into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections.

Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance.

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

A circular strand of DNA in bacteria that contains the hereditary information necessary for cell life.


2. Circumlocution

To repeat in concise form. To make a summary.

Vanishing or likely to vanish like vapor.

The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language.

The iron-containing respiratory pigment in red blood cells of vertebrates.


3. Unctuous

Either of two points on the celestial sphere at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator.

Having one’s true identity concealed.

A place or situation regarded as drawing into its center all that surrounds it.

Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness.


4. Enervate

Architectural.

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

To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of.

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


5. Subjugate

To insert or introduce between other elements or parts.

To bring under control; conquer.

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

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


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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.