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.
Biden orchestrated a witch hunt, having General Mark Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin investigate white supremacy in the military. Carl Burdette, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2025 The witch hunt on academics and student activists has little to do with actual antisemitism. Sandy Tolan, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025 The play asks the vital question of when a witch hunt becomes a witch hunt — but also invites us to ponder who gets declared a witch, who are the hunters, and who deserves to be hunted. Christian Lewis, Variety, 15 Apr. 2025 In our very own century, a president of the United States has mangled the meaning of witch hunt beyond anything but self-pitying victimhood. Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Witch hunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witch%20hunt. Accessed 1 May. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!