News from July 11–July 17, 2026
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 belligerent bison, spheres from space, and a royal rapprochement all contributed to the vocabulary from this week’s news.
absurdist
adjective: relating to the idea that life is chaotic and meaningless
From the headlines: A Dutch museum honored the life of absurdist artist Wim T. Schippers by covering its floors with 800 pounds of peanut butter. Schippers was celebrated in the Netherlands for conceptual works that embraced the peculiarities and unpredictability of life, including his 1969 installation Pindakaasvloer, or Peanut Butter Floor. Beyond his visual art, he also served as the voice of Kermit the Frog on the Dutch Sesame Street.
belligerent
adjective: aggressively hostile
From the headlines: A bison at Yellowstone National Park seriously injured a man after hurling him eight feet into the air. Before attacking 65-year-old Carl Isom-McDaniel, the belligerent bison had charged at several campers and other visitors, including a group of teenagers. Rangers said elevated hormone levels may have contributed to the animal’s agitation, and they reminded visitors to keep a safe distance from wildlife.
bipartisan
adjective: supported by both parties or factions
From the headlines: A bipartisan housing affordability bill became law without President Trump’s signature. Lawmakers from both parties have increasingly recognized that home prices are rising beyond what many people can afford, and the new law encourages construction and less expensive housing. Cooperation between Republicans and Democrats resulted in a bill with compromises on each side, and its passage is seen as a political win for both parties.
conjoined
adjective: joined together, united, or linked
From the headlines: Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft took a series of photographs as it passed the near-Earth asteroid Torifune. After analyzing the images, astronomers discovered that Torifune was actually formed from two conjoined asteroids, making it a rare “contact binary.” Such paired objects are uncommon because collisions between asteroids typically shatter one or both of the rocks rather than leaving them joined together.
divulge
verb: reveal something private, secret, or previously unknown
From the headlines: Nearly a month after he was hospitalized, leading to weeks of speculation about his health, Senator Mitch McConnell divulged that he had fallen and was briefly unconscious. In a statement, McConnell revealed that he hadn’t commented earlier due to the fact that “folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older.” He also said he had been treated for mild pneumonia and was regaining his strength.
extirpate
verb: remove or destroy completely
From the headlines: Since a recent Japanese study showed that natural bacteria can entirely destroy mouse cancer tumors in one dose, excitement about future human applications has grown among scientists. The bacteria, taken from a tree frog’s intestines, extirpated every cancer cell in targeted tumors and activated the immune system to fight new tumors. Researchers say future mouse studies will broaden the treatment to additional types of cancer.
flummox
verb: bewilder, confound, or confuse
From the headlines: Residents of a small town in Queensland, Australia, were flummoxed after six mysterious metal spheres washed ashore on Forrest Beach. The unmarked objects, which resembled oversized silver basketballs, prompted police to close off the area amid concerns that they could be explosive. Several days later, Australia’s space agency announced that the spheres appeared to be pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle.
parasite
noun: an organism that lives in or on an organism of another species and draws nutrition from it
From the headlines: At least thirty-two U.S. states have been hit by a cyclosporiasis outbreak, which has sickened thousands. The illness causes fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms, including infamously “explosive” diarrhea, and most states are reporting unusually high numbers of confirmed cases. Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which feeds on human intestinal cells and can be contracted by eating contaminated food. Health officials investigating the outbreak’s origins say salad greens are one possible source.
rapprochement
noun: the reestablishment of harmonious relations
From the headlines: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children met with King Charles III and Queen Camilla for the first time in years, signaling a possible rapprochement within the royal family. Harry and Meghan have remained estranged from the king since stepping back from their official royal roles and moving to the United States in 2020. Their reunion this week was seen as a step toward repairing the relationship between father and son.
volley
noun: the simultaneous discharge of many missiles or firearms
From the headlines: For the third weekend in a row, the United States and Iran exchanged fire. The volley of strikes, with Iran attacking American military facilities while the U.S. launched missiles and drones at Iranian targets, spelled the definitive end of last month’s truce. After President Trump renewed a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials said they would continue to control traffic through the waterway.
