Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

OVERZEALOUS

DEFINITION:
Showing too much energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Patrolmen’s Association, the city’s largest police union, attributed the encounter to an “overzealous poll worker who was complaining to the officer that the councilor shouldn’t have even been inside.”
The Boston Herald, 11/17/2025

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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 teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

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

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


2. Fallacy

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

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

Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.


3. Tempo

Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

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

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

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


4. Tumult

Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

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

A disorderly commotion or disturbance.

To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant


5. Spectrum

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

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

The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, arranged in order of wavelengths.

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


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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.