Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PROACTIVE

DEFINITION:
Taking action to control a situation rather than responding to it after it has happened.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
LoPilato said the policy aims to be proactive, rather than allowing more violence to take place before regulating the problem.
The Los Angeles Times, 07/20/2026

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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. Boycott

A drawing consisting of the outline of something, especially a human profile, filled in with a solid color.

A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

The pattern produced on a photosensitive medium that has been exposed by holography and then photographically developed.

To abstain from or act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion


2. Accentuate

To stress or emphasize; intensify

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

Having a backbone or spinal column.


3. Solstice

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

The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

The systematic procedure by which a complex or scientific task is accomplished.

One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.


4. Toxin

One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.

The method or result of concealing personnel or equipment from an enemy by making them appear to be part of the natural surroundings

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

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief


5. Outrageous

A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).

To proclaim publicly

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant


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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.