McCarthyism
noun
Mc·Car·thy·ism
mə-ˈkär-thē-ˌi-zəm 
also -ˈkär-tē-
: a mid-20th century political attitude marked by opposition to elements held to be subversive and by the use of unsubstantiated and widely publicized personal attacks
broadly
: defamation of character or reputation through such tactics
Examples of McCarthyism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Spacey likened his predicament to the experiences of actors of yore, who were swept into the Hollywood blacklist as a result of McCarthyism.
—
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
Einstein’s philosophical battle against McCarthyism began with a letter to a Brooklyn high school teacher named William Frauenglass.
—Jodie Childers, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Most notably, in 1958, congressional conservatives pushed to rein in the Warren Court for rulings that challenged and undercut the red-baiting that characterized the era of McCarthyism.
—Time, 14 Nov. 2025
That these connections were cemented during McCarthyism and the Red Scare — a time when the American way was perceived to be under threat — is no accident, Seaton said.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
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Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025
Einstein’s philosophical battle against McCarthyism began with a letter to a Brooklyn high school teacher named William Frauenglass.
—Jodie Childers, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Most notably, in 1958, congressional conservatives pushed to rein in the Warren Court for rulings that challenged and undercut the red-baiting that characterized the era of McCarthyism.
—Time, 14 Nov. 2025
That these connections were cemented during McCarthyism and the Red Scare — a time when the American way was perceived to be under threat — is no accident, Seaton said.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for McCarthyism
Cite this Entry
“McCarthyism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/McCarthyism. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
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