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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

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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. Nonsectarian

Not limited to or associated with a particular religious denomination.

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

To repeat in concise form. To make a summary.

Interchanged, given, or owed to each other.


2. Totalitarian

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

A form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life,

To renounce under oath; forswear.

Government by a few, especially by a small faction of persons or families.


3. Hubris

Government by a few, especially by a small faction of persons or families.

Everyday; commonplace.

To divide (a geographic area) into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections.

Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance.


4. Reparation

Something done or paid to compensate or make amends.

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

Having a harmful effect; injurious.

The basic unit of currency among participating European Union countries.


5. Hypotenuse

The basic unit of currency among participating European Union countries.

Vacuously, smugly, and unconsciously foolish.

The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle.

Tumultuous; stormy.


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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.