witch hunt

noun

1
: a searching out for persecution of persons accused of witchcraft
2
: the searching out and deliberate harassment of those (such as political opponents) with unpopular views
witch-hunter noun
witch-hunting noun or adjective

Examples of witch hunt in a Sentence

He was the victim of a congressional witch hunt against Communists.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Still, the priest leading the witch hunt insists that Talver must burn for her crimes, prompting Geralt and his cohort to intervene. Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025 The second half places witches in a cultural context — and draws explicit parallels between the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthy’s Communist witch hunt. Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 19 Oct. 2025 Moseby’s lawyer argued that he was subjected to a witch hunt and false accusations that came about after word spread of the Snapchat video. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025 Keep your cool to avoid fueling a witch hunt. Usa Today, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for witch hunt

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of witch hunt was in 1853

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Cite this Entry

“Witch hunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witch%20hunt. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

witch-hunt

noun
-ˌhənt
1
: a searching out and persecution of persons accused of witchcraft
2
: the searching out and deliberate harassment of those (as political opponents) with unpopular views

More from Merriam-Webster on witch hunt

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