show trial
noun
: a trial (as of political opponents) in which the verdict is rigged and a public confession is often extracted
Examples of show trial in a Sentence
They were forced to confess their guilt in public show trials.
Recent Examples on the Web
But that also eradicates a crucial option - to mount a show trial and scapegoat him for all the ills of his rule, thus absolving others.
—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
On the Criterion Channel, known for showcasing classics and discoveries from around the world, Two Prosecutors will be accompanied by The Trial, a 2018 documentary that Loznitsa assembled from footage of a 1930 Stalinist show trial.
—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
The court case involving the Francoist throwback police culprits became a show trial for Spain’s young democracy.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
The Ministry of State Security hoped to stage a public show trial, but as soon as the physical coercion stopped, the defendants began to retract their confessions and write letters of protest.
—
Wendy Z. Goldman,
The Conversation,
1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for show trial
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Melik Kaylan,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
On the Criterion Channel, known for showcasing classics and discoveries from around the world, Two Prosecutors will be accompanied by The Trial, a 2018 documentary that Loznitsa assembled from footage of a 1930 Stalinist show trial.
—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
The court case involving the Francoist throwback police culprits became a show trial for Spain’s young democracy.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
The Ministry of State Security hoped to stage a public show trial, but as soon as the physical coercion stopped, the defendants began to retract their confessions and write letters of protest.
—
Wendy Z. Goldman,
The Conversation,
1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for show trial
Cite this Entry
“Show trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/show%20trial. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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