Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

SHRAPNEL

DEFINITION:
Pieces of a bomb, shell, or bullet that has exploded.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
The U.S. military exercise that shot live-fire artillery rounds over Interstate 5 on Saturday dropped metal shrapnel onto a California Highway Patrol protective services detail for Vice President JD Vance, agency officials said Sunday.
The Los Angeles Times, 10/20/2025

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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. Antibody

A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.


2. Outrageous

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

A disorderly commotion or disturbance.

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative


3. Fallacy

The right or privilege of voting; franchise.

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

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

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


4. Ellipse

A rebirth or revival.

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

A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

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


5. Toxin

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

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

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

Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline


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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.