Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

SUREFIRE

DEFINITION:
Certain or likely, especially to succeed.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Kirby taught himself how to count cards, a surefire way to get barred from gambling at a casino, “raking in money on trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas,” the article stated.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal, 05/04/2026

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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. Tsunami

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

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

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.

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


2. Mutation

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

A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace

An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality.

Harmful, malevolent, injurious. Harmfully cancerous.


3. Formidable

A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation

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

Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder

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


4. Enthusiastic

Having or demonstrating enthusiasm

Any of various nonplacental mammals, including kangaroos, opossums, bandicoots, and wombats, found principally in Australia and the Americas.

A rebirth or revival.

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


5. Divulge

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

The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

To proclaim publicly

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.


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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.