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. Renaissance

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

A rebirth or revival.


2. Commemorate

An embankment built to prevent flooding

To honor the memory of with a ceremony

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

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


3. Vertebrate

A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy

Having a backbone or spinal column.

A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

Sharing the same opinions or views; being in complete harmony or accord.


4. Renegade

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

An elevated, comparatively level expanse of land; a tableland.

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

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


5. Ultraviolet

Of or relating to the range of invisible radiation wavelengths from about 4 nanometers, on the border of the x-ray region, to about 380 nanometers, just beyond the violet in the visible spectrum.

A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.

Any of various relatively small sailing or motor-driven vessels used for pleasure cruises or racing.

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


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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.