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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

OVERZEALOUS

DEFINITION:
Showing too much energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
Patrolmen’s Association, the city’s largest police union, attributed the encounter to an “overzealous poll worker who was complaining to the officer that the councilor shouldn’t have even been inside.”
The Boston Herald, 11/17/2025

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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. Unctuous

Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness.

Clear to the understanding.

Of or relating to a holding of something in trust for another.

The process in cell division by which the nucleus divides.


2. Hegemony

Of or relating to a holding of something in trust for another.

The process in cell division by which the nucleus divides.

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

The predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others.


3. Circumlocution

The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language.

Tumultuous; stormy.

Having one’s true identity concealed.

A factor that determines a range of variations; a boundary


4. Evanescent

An underlying base or foundation especially for an organization or system.

Vanishing or likely to vanish like vapor.

An extremely distant, and thus old, celestial object whose power output is several thousand times that of our entire galaxy.

Playfully jocular; humorous


5. Epiphany

A place or situation regarded as drawing into its center all that surrounds it.

To separate or get rid of (an undesirable part); eliminate.

A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.

Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight.


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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.