witch hunters
Salem's zealous pursuers
Witch hunters are those who pursue people accused of witchcraft.
Historically, they conducted inquisitions that led to trials and executions, particularly in early modern Europe and colonial America.
The term now applies figuratively to anyone who persecutes others based on ideological suspicion rather than evidence: The senator called the committee a group of witch hunters.
The singular witch hunter refers to an individual engaged in such pursuits.
City or name
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
- trialsFormal legal proceedings
- burningCombustion in progress
- stakeSharpened post or share
heresy · accusation · testimony · torture · execution · Malleus Maleficarum · dunking · ordeal
Those who investigate beliefs
- zealotsFanatical cause followers
- fanaticsObsessive believers
- accusersThose who blame others
- prosecutorsLawyers representing the state
witchfinders · judges · extremists · crusaders · informants · tormentors · interrogators · oppressors
Irrational persecution fears
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- mass hysteriaShared irrational public fear
mob mentality · suspicion · fear · frenzy · delusion · persecution · rumor · confession
Practice of dark magic
- hexMalevolent incantation
- familiarKnown from experience
- potionEnchanted liquid mixture
- occultConcealed from view
devil · demonic · sabbath · coven · broomstick · black cat · curse · spell
Politically-motivated accusation without evidence
- red scareMass anti-communist hysteria
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- blacklistRecord of prohibited entities
cancel culture · purge · vendetta · inquisition · smear campaign · character assassination · tribunal · show trial
Salem
City or name
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
- trialsFormal legal proceedings
- burningCombustion in progress
stake · heresy · accusation · testimony · torture · execution · Malleus Maleficarum · dunking · ordeal · witchfinder
inquisitors
Those who investigate beliefs
prosecutors · witchfinders · judges · extremists · crusaders · informants · tormentors · interrogators · oppressors · moralists
paranoia
Irrational persecution fears
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- accusationClaim someone did wrong
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
mass hysteria · mob mentality · suspicion · fear · frenzy · delusion · persecution · rumor · confession · denunciation
sorcery
Practice of dark magic
occult · devil · demonic · sabbath · coven · broomstick · black cat · curse · spell · pact
McCarthyism
Politically-motivated accusation without evidence
- red scareMass anti-communist hysteria
- scapegoatingUnfairly assigning fault to innocents
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
blacklist · cancel culture · purge · vendetta · inquisition · smear campaign · character assassination · tribunal · show trial · denouncement
- witch huntsSalem trials, accusations, burning at stake, Tituba, inquisition
- extremistsextremists, extremist, fanatics, fanatic, radicals
witch huntersdefense attorneys
Lawyers representing accused individuals
public defenders · exonerators · liberators · rescuers · intercessors
witch hunterssympathizers
Those favoring a cause
advocates · allies · supporters · pardoners
witch huntersskeptics
Those who doubt claims
debunkers · rationalists · empiricists · freethinkers · peacemakers
witch, hunter, witches, witchy, witchcraft, witchery, bewitched, bewitch, hunters