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. Boisterous

► 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 person with masterly skill or technique in the arts.

► Loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline

► A proportional part or share.

2. Gargoyle

► A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.

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

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

► A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation

3. Unanimous

► Sharing the same opinions or views; being in complete harmony or accord.

► 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

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

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

4. Flourish

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

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

► Any of several rod-shaped bacteria, of the genus Salmonella, that cause food poisoning and other diseases.

► To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

5. Bandolier

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

► Not subject to an obligation imposed on others; exempt.

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

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

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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.