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. Spectrum

The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, arranged in order of wavelengths.

Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles

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

To stress or emphasize; intensify


2. Guerrilla

To honor the memory of with a ceremony

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

A state of uncertainty or perplexity.

A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.


3. Toxin

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

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

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

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


4. Yacht

The pattern produced on a photosensitive medium that has been exposed by holography and then photographically developed.

An ammunition belt, worn over the shoulder, having loops or pockets for cartridges.

A cult or religious movement, a group sharing particular (often unorthodox) political and/or religious beliefs.

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


5. Outrageous

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

To move back or away from a limit, point, or mark

To move in waves or with a smooth, wavelike motion.

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.


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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.