Words in the News

This Week's Word In The News 

LITIGANT

DEFINITION:
Someone involved in a lawsuit.

FOUND IN THE NEWS:
With the widespread and transformative use of artificial intelligence — particularly generative AI — in daily life, federal and state courts in New Mexico are finding self-represented litigants and some attorneys filing legal cases containing false or misleading information.
The Albuquerque Journal, 04/13/2026

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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. Despondent

A Y-shaped protein on the surface of B cells that is secreted into the blood or lymph in response to an antigenic stimulus

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

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

Being without or almost without hope


2. Nocturnal

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

Of, relating to, or occurring in the night

A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness

To cringe in fear


3. Exponent

One that speaks for, represents, or advocates

Self-examination.

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

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


4. Undulate

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

Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

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

The drawing of a conclusion by reasoning; the act of deducing.


5. Jaunty

Grossly offensive to decency or morality.

Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.

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

Having a backbone or spinal column.


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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.