Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

ADVERSE

DEFINITION:
Having a negative or harmful effect on something.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
There was no evidence of “any adverse or harmful chemical or other exposures,” he wrote.
The Boston Herald, 06/15/2026

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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. Pulverize

The arrangement of events in time

To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.

Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles

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


2. Alliteration

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

The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables

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

A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.


3. Nebula

A closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments.

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

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

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates


4. Enthusiastic

Having or demonstrating enthusiasm

To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

To condescend to give or grant

Being without or almost without hope


5. Analogy

Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

An embankment built to prevent flooding

The right or privilege of voting; franchise.

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.