News from December 13–December 19, 2025
Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this feature highlights language as it’s unfolding. Stories about healing, heritage, and a decidedly unjolly Christmas figure all contributed to the vocabulary from this week’s news.
bereavement
noun: state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From the headlines: Experts say talking with other grieving people can help those who have experienced the death of a loved one. An even better way to ease the pain of grief, according to some bereavement counselors, is walking with others who are mourning the same kind of loss. They say the side-by-side activity encourages uninhibited conversation, allowing for people to fully express their sorrow and loss.
diabolical
adjective: showing cunning or ingenuity or wickedness
From the headlines: In some parts of Europe, the horned, devilish figure of Krampus rivals St. Nicholas in prominence during the Christmas season. Salzburg’s annual Krampus Run, a tradition dating back to the 1600s, drew hundreds of participants dressed as the diabolical character in shaggy brown suits and frightening masks. The snarling Krampuses chased children and lashed at adults with birch switches, while St. Nick calmly wandered through the crowd, handing out sweets.
diaspora
noun: the dispersion of something that was originally localized
From the headlines: Hindi-language comedians have been packing theaters across the United States, drawing large crowds from the Indian diaspora. In August, Indian comic Zakir Khan made history by headlining the first Hindi-language show at Madison Square Garden, while other performers have sold out dates in Chicago, Dallas, and Houston. The audiences are largely Hindi-speaking immigrants and members of the diaspora with family ties to India.
dictatorship
noun: a form of government in which the ruler is unconstrained
From the headlines: José Antonio Kast, a far-right politician who has praised Chile’s past dictatorship, won the presidential election. Kast ran on a platform of enhancing public safety, reducing crime, and stemming immigration. He has been a vocal admirer of the country’s former dictator, Augusto Pinochet, who led a military coup and seized control of the government in 1973. Pinochet’s authoritarian administration suppressed dissenting views and was accused of torturing tens of thousands of Chilean citizens.
exoplanet
noun: a planet revolving around a star other than the Sun
From the headlines: Initial studies of an exoplanet in a solar system thirty-nine light years away offer the exciting possibility that it might have an atmosphere and water. Astronomers are intrigued by the Earth-sized planet, which orbits the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1e, after analysis of images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope found evidence of methane. Further study is needed to determine if the gas, which could indicate the presence of an atmosphere, came from the planet or its sun.
forage
verb: collect or look around for, as food
From the headlines: After one person was killed after consuming a poisonous mushroom, the California Department of Public Health advised people not to forage for wild mushrooms. Between November and December, twenty-one people in the state became ill after eating fungi that had been found and picked in wooded areas. Death cap mushrooms, which closely resemble an edible version, can cause severe liver damage.
intangible
adjective: incapable of being perceived by the senses, especially touch
From the headlines: UNESCO has added Swiss yodeling, soaking in Icelandic pools, and the tradition of applying kohl eye makeup to its list of intangible cultural heritage. The U.N.’s cultural and education agency curates the list to protect traditions that may be intangible but remain culturally significant. Newly recognized practices also include Japanese papermaking, Italian cuisine, and Ghana’s High Life music and dance.
nuisance
noun: anything that disturbs, endangers life, or is offensive
From the headlines: Across the arid Western U.S., “nuisance” beavers are increasingly being relocated rather than killed. Previously, when their dam-building flooded ranch land or their chewing damaged trees, the animals were often shot. But as drought intensifies, their natural engineering has come to be seen as an asset instead of an annoyance. Moved to new locations, beavers are offering environmental benefits such as forming ponds, restoring wetlands, and helping slow water runoff.
punctual
adjective: acting or arriving exactly at the time appointed
From the headlines: Germany’s rail system, long praised for its reliability, has slipped to become the least punctual in Europe. An October report found that only around half of Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance high-speed trains reach their destinations on schedule. Although weekend service is somewhat more dependable than weekday travel, analysts say years of neglect and insufficient government investment have taken a toll on the country’s rail network.
vacuum
noun: an electrical home appliance that cleans by suction
From the headlines: The maker of the Roomba vacuum filed for bankruptcy this week. iRobot was founded in 1990 by M.I.T. researchers who invented the popular robotic household device in 2002. Roombas are designed to suck up dirt and debris as they move independently around a room, powered by rechargeable batteries. The company has struggled in recent years with competition from other robotic vacuum makers and customer concerns about data privacy.
Note: After this edition, This Week in Words will be on pause for the holidays. See you in the new year!
