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. Guru

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

► The quality or state of being tranquil; serenity.

► To take in by elaborate methods of deceit

► A teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters.

2. Heritage

► The right or privilege of voting; franchise.

► Exceeding the limits of propriety or good manners; improperly forward or bold

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

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

3. Polygon

► A closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments.

► Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

► A form of a verb that in some languages, such as English, can function independently as an adjective.

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

4. Despondent

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

► Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline

► Being without or almost without hope

► One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

5. Introspection

► Self-examination.

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

► To condescend to give or grant

► Having or demonstrating enthusiasm

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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.