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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. Renegade

The branch of biology that deals with animals and animal life, including the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals.

One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.

A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.


2. Dialogue

Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.

Conversation between characters in a drama or narrative

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

Having no specific pattern, purpose, or objective.


3. Fallacy

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

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief

Of or relating to the range of invisible radiation wavelengths from about 4 nanometers, on the border of the x-ray region, to about 380 nanometers, just beyond the violet in the visible spectrum.

An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen.


4. Labyrinth

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

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

Self-examination.

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.


5. Recede

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

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

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

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


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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.