Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

PETITIONER

DEFINITION:
A person who pleads with a governmental institution for a legal remedy or a redress of grievances, through the use of a petition.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
While presenting the citizens’ petition for debate at the April 11 Spring Town Meeting, petitioners argued that ICE operations in Plymouth have “created fear” and “disrupted lives” among the immigrant community, leading to what they call a distrust of local police.
The Boston Herald, 04/20/2026

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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. Dialogue

A very large and destructive wave, generally caused by a tremendous disturbance in the ocean, such as an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

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

The distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year.

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative


2. Nocturnal

A treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of Arctic regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

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.


3. Parasite

An intricate structure of interconnecting passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way; a maze.

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

Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

Strikingly unconventional and far-fetched in style or appearance; odd


4. Guerrilla

The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition.

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

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


5. Jovial

Harmful, malevolent, injurious. Harmfully cancerous.

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

Marked by hearty conviviality and good cheer.

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.