Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PLOY

DEFINITION:
A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
“First of all, I think it’s important to recognize that the majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,” said the 44th president, conceding that it does serve as an effective distraction and ploy for attention.
►The Boston Herald, 02/16/2026

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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. Solstice

► Either of two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.

► Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

► One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.

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

2. Voracious

► One that takes in everything available, as with the mind.

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

► One who habitually takes advantage of the generosity of others without making any useful return.

► Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.

3. Renaissance

► To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another.

► One that is inconvenient, annoying, or vexatious; a bother.

► A drawing consisting of the outline of something, especially a human profile, filled in with a solid color.

► A rebirth or revival.

4. Tumult

► Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

► A disorderly commotion or disturbance.

► A fungus, usually of the class Ascomycetes, that grows symbiotically with algae,

► A person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

5. Symbiosis

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

► Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

► A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.

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

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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.