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

Generate your own quiz
Select a grade level
 Elementary
 Middle School
 High School
Select a quiz type
 By words
 By Definitions
Select how many questions
5   10   15   20  

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

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

► One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

► The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting of sieve tubes, fibers, parenchyma, and sclereids.

► A metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters (0.62 mile).

2. Strategy

► The science and art of using all the forces of a nation to execute approved plans as effectively as possible during peace or war.

► Any of various relatively small sailing or motor-driven vessels used for pleasure cruises or racing.

► A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus

► A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

3. Laconic

► Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise.

► Having or demonstrating enthusiasm

► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.

► Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

4. Wretched

► The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.

► Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

► To take in by elaborate methods of deceit

► In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable.

5. Mosaic

► A picture or decorative design made by setting small colored pieces, as of stone or tile, into a surface.

► To stress or emphasize; intensify

► The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables

► One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

Get more Quizzes 

 Elementary School    Middle School   High School  

 By Word     By Definition    5  10  15  20 Questions

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.