Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

DENIALISM

DEFINITION:
Bianco’s investigation, which includes all the ballots cast in Riverside County in November, raises questions about how he would handle the election denialism movement if he is elected governor.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
The practice of denying the existence, truth, or validity of something despite proof or strong evidence that it is real, true, or valid.
►The Los Angeles Times, 03/23/2026

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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. Polygon

► The systematic procedure by which a complex or scientific task is accomplished.

► 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

► A dense evergreen forest occupying a tropical region with an annual rainfall of at least 100 inches.

► A closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments.

2. Typhoon

► A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

► Sharing the same opinions or views; being in complete harmony or accord.

► A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

► A weather phenomenon in the Eastern Pacific that is precisely equivalent to a hurricane.

3. Sect

► A cult or religious movement, a group sharing particular (often unorthodox) political and/or religious beliefs.

► A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.

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

► Relating to a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.

4. Embargo

► Having a backbone or spinal column.

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

► To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

► An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.

5. Inference

► A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen.

► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

► Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

► A proportional part or share.

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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.