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

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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. Decorum

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

Appropriateness of behavior or conduct

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

To pound, crush, or grind to a powder or dust.


2. Divulge

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

To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

To proclaim publicly

A schedule of prices or fees.


3. Omnivore

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

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

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.


4. Metaphor

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.

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

One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.


5. Toxin

To condescend to give or grant

A poisonous substance, especially a protein, that is produced by living cells or organisms.

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

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


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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.