witch hunt

Or witch-hunt

[wich-huhnt]

noun

1. (in historical use) the investigation, trial, and punishment of alleged practitioners of witchcraft.

2. an intensive inquiry, originally or purportedly to discover and expose dishonesty, subversion, or other wrongdoing, the scope and conclusions of which often include and bring harm to innocent persons or their reputations through reliance on hearsay or circumstantial evidence.

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to a witch hunt.

   The defendant claimed he was being witch-hunted due to his political activism.

witch-hunt

noun

1. a rigorous campaign to round up or expose dissenters on the pretext of safeguarding the welfare of the public

Other Word Forms

• witch hunter noun
• witch-hunting noun
• witch-hunter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of witch hunt¹

First recorded in 1885–90 witch hunt for def. 1; in 1935–40 witch hunt for def. 2; and in 1945–50 witch hunt for def. 3; the gerund witch-hunting was first recorded in 1635–40

Example Sentences

“I don’t know who he is. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt.”

Read more on Salon

Some local officials, such as Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, have characterized the probe as a “witch hunt” by “MAGA Republicans” that was intended to bash Democrats.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The same administration that once led chants of “Lock her up!” over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private email server now dismissed the breach as “no big deal” and a “witch hunt.”

Read more on Salon

“What we’re seeing is a witch hunt against lesbians,” she said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Alberto Retana, president and chief executive of Community Coalition, a nonprofit group based in Harris-Dawson’s district, said he too views the inquiry from the two senators as a witch hunt — one that’s targeting L.A. city elected officials while ignoring Southern California Edison.

Read more on Los Angeles Times