Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

INSPECTOR

DEFINITION:
An official employed to ensure that official regulations are obeyed, especially in public services.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are federal employees, and misconduct allegations are typically investigated by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility or by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of inspector General.
►The Key West Citizen, 03/16/2026

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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. Enthusiastic

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

► A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

► Having or demonstrating enthusiasm

2. Gargoyle

► To rejoice greatly; be jubilant or triumphant

► A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

► A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy.

► Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

3. Jaunty

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

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

► An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality.

► The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.

4. Guerrilla

► The supporting and water-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels; woody tissue.

► To condescend to give or grant

► To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

► A member of an irregular, usually indigenous military or paramilitary unit operating in small bands in occupied territory to harass and undermine the enemy

5. Embargo

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

► A rebirth or revival.

► The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

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

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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.