witchhunt
Politically motivated persecution
A witchhunt is a campaign to identify and punish people accused of holding unacceptable views or engaging in subversive activity.
The term invokes the historical persecution of alleged witches, when accusations spread through communities and evidence mattered less than suspicion.
Modern witchhunts target political enemies, social deviants, or anyone deemed threatening: The hearings became a witchhunt against suspected communists.
Often spelled as two words: witch hunt.
Sustained, probing investigation
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- purgeEliminate unwanted elements
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- McCarthyismPolitically-motivated accusation without evidence
blacklist · harassment · interrogation · tribunal · accusation · denunciation · heresy · burning
Organized defamation effort
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
- red scareMass anti-communist hysteria
- purgeEliminate unwanted elements
- cancelRevoke or terminate
expose · loyalty test · tribunal · subversion · enemies list · retaliation · partisan · silencing
inquisition
Sustained, probing investigation
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- purgeEliminate unwanted elements
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
McCarthyism · blacklist · harassment · interrogation · tribunal · accusation · denunciation · heresy · burning · gallows
smear campaign
Organized defamation effort
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
- red scareMass anti-communist hysteria
- purgeEliminate unwanted elements
cancel · expose · loyalty test · tribunal · subversion · enemies list · retaliation · partisan · silencing · intimidation
frenzy
Violent mental agitation
fear · craze · alarmism · irrationality · overreaction · contagion · delirium · fever · unreason · superstition
blame
Assign responsibility for wrongdoing
innocent · patsy · sacrifice · outcast · stigma · defamation · vilification · smear · ostracism · pariah
witchhuntfair trial
Impartial judicial proceeding
due process · fair hearing · impartial investigation · legal process · judicial review
witchhuntexoneration
Official clearing of blame
vindication · amnesty · pardon · acquittal · truth and reconciliation
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