witch-hunts
Paranoid purges unfold
Witch-hunts is the plural of witch-hunt—a campaign to find and punish people accused of holding dangerous or unacceptable views.
The term comes from historical persecution of supposed witches but now usually describes politically motivated investigations that presume guilt: The senator called the ethics probe a witch-hunt.
The implication is that accusers are driven by hysteria or malice rather than evidence.
Sustained, probing investigation
- McCarthyismPolitically-motivated accusation without evidence
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- blacklistRecord of prohibited entities
- purgeEliminate unwanted elements
tribunal · interrogation · denunciation · accusation · conviction · imprisonment · execution · burning
Unfairly blamed person
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- fall-guyOne blamed for others
- patsyEasily deceived victim
- targetObject of pursuit
victim · innocent · accused · framed · wronged · vilification · demonization · smear
Violent mental agitation
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- crazeShort-lived popular obsession
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
alarmism · irrationality · overreaction · contagion · unreason · groupthink · sensationalism · scaremongering
Sense of unease about motives
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- mistrustLack of faith
- fearEmotional response to threat
dread · espionage · surveillance · infiltration · subversion · treachery · betrayal · exposure
inquisition
Sustained, probing investigation
- McCarthyismPolitically-motivated accusation without evidence
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- blacklistRecord of prohibited entities
purge · tribunal · interrogation · denunciation · accusation · conviction · imprisonment · execution · burning · heresy
scapegoat
Unfairly blamed person
target · victim · innocent · accused · framed · wronged · vilification · demonization · smear · defamation
frenzy
Violent mental agitation
fearmongering · alarmism · irrationality · overreaction · contagion · unreason · groupthink · sensationalism · scaremongering · Salem
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- mistrustLack of faith
fear · dread · espionage · surveillance · infiltration · subversion · treachery · betrayal · exposure · unmasking
witch-huntsdue process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
rule of law · judicial review · fair trials · fair trial · fair hearing
witch-huntsexonerations
Clearances from accusation
vindication · presumption of innocence · exoneration · acquittal · acquittals
witchcraft, witches, bewitch, bewitched, witching, bewitching, witchery, bewitchment, witch-hunt