Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

WILDFIRE

DEFINITION:
An unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
It was not yet clear how the wildfires started, but a long drought, low humidity and strong winds were fueling them.
The Key West Citizen, 04/27/2026

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Words in the News Quiz
5 High 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. Epiphany

A product of disintegration, destruction, or wearing away; debris.

The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended.

A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.

A circular strand of DNA in bacteria that contains the hereditary information necessary for cell life.


2. Feckless

To certify or attest to (the validity of a signature on a document, for example) as a notary public.

The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language.

Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.

Noninterference in the affairs of others.


3. Ziggurat

A diligent, dependable worker.

Attended by favorable circumstances; propitious.

A temple tower of the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories.

The science and technology of building electronic circuits and devices from single atoms and molecules.


4. Orthography

A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.

The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle.

The art or study of correct spelling according to established usage.

Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight.


5. Diffident

Eating and drinking in moderation.

A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality

Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid.

Either of two points on the celestial sphere at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator.


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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.