Witch-hunt

Definitions

1. A search for people believed to be using sorcery or harmful magic, typically in order to persecute or punish them.
   historical
2. An attempt to find and punish or harass a group of people perceived as a threat, usually on ideological or political grounds.
   broadly
3. A public or political campaign or investigation which smears a person or group.
   broadly

Equivalents

17 more languages

العربيةحملة ضد المعارضين، اضطهاد السّاحراتمُطَارَدَةُ السَّاحِرَاتِ

Catalàcaça de bruixes

Danskheksejagt

Ελληνικάκυνήγι μαγισσών

Suomiajojahtinoitavaino

Magyarboszorkányüldözés

Italianocaccia alle streghe

日本語魔女狩り

한국어마녀사냥

Nederlandsheksenjacht

Polskinagonkapolowanie na czarownice

Portuguêscaça às bruxas

Românăvânătoare de vrăjitoare

Русскийохо́та на ведьм

Svenskahäxjakt

ไทยการล่าแม่มด

Türkçecadı avı

Examples

“To-night ye will see⟳. It is the great witch-hunt, and many will be smelt out as wizards and slain.”

“The rupturing of British rule⟳ over India in the rebellion of 1857 permitted a great witch-hunt, with lethal effects, to occur⟳ among the tribes of northern India.”

“Rank-and-file Communists everywhere are led away on a senseless witch-hunt after 'Trotskyists'.”

“Even fewer people could believe⟳ that the UNCW administration would actually undertake⟳ a witch hunt against me, even going so far as to invoke their right to read⟳ my personal e-mails because they were on the university's system.”

“I defended myself vigorously on that complaint as well; also mentioning that Julie Ann Wilks had always disliked me and had been conducting “a witch hunt” against me. As soon as I said the words “witch hunt” Katy interrupted and wouldn't let⟳ me continue⟳ […]”

“The media is really on a witch-hunt against me. False reporting, and plenty of it - but we will prevail!”

““It is striking how poorly his usual playbook will work⟳ for the Epstein files debacle,” Ford wrote, adding that Trump “cannot credibly claim⟳ that he is the victim of some kind of ‘witch hunt,’ even though he is trying to do so.””

CEFR level