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 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. Impertinent

To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

Exceeding the limits of propriety or good manners; improperly forward or bold

In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.


2. Gargoyle

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

To move back or away from a limit, point, or mark

The locus of points for which the sum of the distances from each point to two fixed points is equal

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.


3. Nuisance

To take in by elaborate methods of deceit

One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

One that is inconvenient, annoying, or vexatious; a bother.


4. Xylem

Self-examination.

A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation

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

The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.


5. Aspire

Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.

To have a great ambition or ultimate goal

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

An embankment built to prevent flooding


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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.