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Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

MITIGATION

DEFINITION:
The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
But after years of record investment by the state in such wildfire risk mitigation, two key money sources are drying up, potentially reducing the state’s annual budget for vegetation removal by hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Los Angeles Times, 06/01/2026

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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. Hypotenuse

Deception by trickery or sophistry.

Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness.

The side of a right triangle opposite the right angle.

The lowest point


2. Pecuniary

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

Of or relating to money

The process in cell division by which the nucleus divides.

Shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane.


3. Nomenclature

A system of names used in an art or science:

Falling off or shed at a specific season or stage of growth:

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

The use of obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speechmaking, for the purpose of delaying legislative action.


4. Infrastructure

The use of obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speechmaking, for the purpose of delaying legislative action.

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

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

Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance.


5. Enervate

To weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of.

Vacuously, smugly, and unconsciously foolish.

Noninterference in the affairs of others.

To remove erroneous, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material from (a book, for example) before publication.


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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.