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 High 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. Omnipotent

Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful.

Needless repetition of the same sense in different words; redundancy.

Clear to the understanding.

A stock of terms used in a particular profession, subject, or style; a vocabulary:


2. Feckless

Clear to the understanding.

A stock of terms used in a particular profession, subject, or style; a vocabulary:

The predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others.

Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.


3. Notarize

Either of two points on the celestial sphere at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator.

To certify or attest to (the validity of a signature on a document, for example) as a notary public.

The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended.

Noninterference in the affairs of others.


4. Enfranchise

Noninterference in the affairs of others.

A product of disintegration, destruction, or wearing away; debris.

To renounce under oath; forswear.

To endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote.


5. Diffident

Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree.

Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid.

Division into ordered groups or categories.

Interchanged, given, or owed to each other.


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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.