Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this list highlights language as it’s unfolding. Stories about chimpanzees that gossip, an “inverse vaccine” that could treat autoimmune disorders, and a deal to cut tariffs all contributed words to this list of vocabulary from the week’s news.
demobilize
verb: to disband (troops, an army, etc.)
From the headlines: After forty years of conflict, the PKK Kurdish militant group will demobilize as part of a new peace plan with Turkey. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party says it has met its goal of opposing anti-Kurdish policies and no longer sees a need for armed resistance. Tens of thousands have died since the conflict began in the 1980s.
encephalitis
noun: Pathology. inflammation of the substance of the brain
From the headlines: Volunteers in New South Wales, Australia who care for thirteen small flocks of chickens are the area’s first line of defense against encephalitis and other mosquito-borne illnesses. The chicken keepers send weekly blood samples to a state lab for testing, providing early detection of the brain-swelling disease before it hits humans.
espouse
verb: to make one’s own; adopt or embrace, as a cause
From the headlines: California Governor Gavin Newsom has begun to espouse a tougher approach to the state’s homelessness crisis, urging bans on encampments. It’s a shift from his previous focus on treatment and housing. Newsom’s new policy of cracking down on unhoused people living in tents on public property follows last year’s Supreme Court decision stating that people who sleep on sidewalks or in parks can be penalized.
garrulous
adjective: excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner, especially about trivial matters
From the headlines: New research into the complex calls between chimpanzees offers clues about human language’s evolution. A study analyzed the call combinations between a group of garrulous wild chimps in C么te d’Ivoire. Among thousands of vocalizations, the talkative primates uttered twelve distinct sounds, which had totally different meanings when combined. Researchers found the chimps, like humans, often used these vocalizations to exchange gossip.
grievous
adjective: extremely or shockingly wicked, cruel, brutal, etc.; atrocious
From the headlines: Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was elected mayor of his hometown in a landslide victory, despite being in prison awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court has accused him of committing grievous acts, including overseeing thousands of extrajudicial killings as part of his administration’s anti-drug campaign, with victims including civilians and minors.
levy
noun: an imposing or collecting, as of a tax, by authority or force
From the headlines: The U.S. and China announced a deal to cut tariffs, temporarily reducing recently imposed levies on each other’s goods. Taxes on imported Chinese products are now 30 percent, down from 145 percent; in China, a 125 percent levy was reduced to 10 percent. The agreement marked a ninety-day pause in the trade war between the countries, and both governments agreed to continue talks.
lobby
noun: a group of persons who work or conduct a campaign to influence members of a legislature to vote according to the group’s special interest
From the headlines: The pharmaceutical lobby pushed back against a White House plan aimed at lowering prescription drug costs, criticizing a new executive order that gives drug companies thirty days to reduce prices. It remains unclear whether the changes will affect private insurance or apply only to government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Drugmakers argue that the rule could hinder the development of new medications, raising concerns about its broader impact on innovation.
paradigm
noun: a typical or representative instance or example
From the headlines: In his first public address, Pope Leo XIV called for a ceasefire in Gaza. He asked journalists to use their platforms to foster peace and “reject the paradigm of war.” The new pontiff emphasized to the media the power of nonviolence in both words and actions.
reciprocal
adjective: given, performed, felt, etc., in return
From the headlines: Scientists discovered that some bird species form reciprocal relationships, taking turns caring for each other’s young. In a new study, Kenyan superb starlings were seen swapping favors like guarding or feeding one another’s chicks. This reciprocal behavior even occurred among unrelated birds.
suppress
verb: to stop or slow down聽
From the headlines: Researchers are working on an “inverse vaccine” that treats autoimmune diseases by suppressing the immune system’s self-destructive response. Instead of boosting immunity like a typical vaccine, it targets and quiets the part that mistakenly attacks the body. The innovative vaccine could help treat multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.
