Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PLOY

DEFINITION:
A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
“First of all, I think it’s important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” said the 44th president, conceding that it does serve as an effective distraction and ploy for attention.
The Boston Herald, 02/16/2026

Generate your own quiz
Select a grade level
 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School
Select a quiz type
 By words
 By Definitions
Select how many questions
5   10   15   20  

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. Participle

A form of a verb that in some languages, such as English, can function independently as an adjective.

To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night


2. Strategy

The science and art of using all the forces of a nation to execute approved plans as effectively as possible during peace or war.

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

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

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.


3. Cower

To cringe in fear

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.

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


4. Immune

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

Having a backbone or spinal column.

Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy


5. Light-Year

The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

Having or demonstrating enthusiasm

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


Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    5  10  15  20 Questions

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.