Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

witch hunt

noun
|Updated on: 28 Jul 2018

Definition of witch hunt

1 : a searching out for persecution of persons accused of witchcraft
2 : the searching out and deliberate harassment of those (such as political opponents) with unpopular views
—

witch-hunter

noun
—

witch-hunting

noun or adjective

See witch hunt defined for English-language learners

Examples of witch hunt in a Sentence

  1. He was the victim of a congressional witch hunt against Communists.

Recent Examples of witch hunt from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'witch hunt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of witch hunt

1885

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

WITCH HUNT Defined for English Language Learners

witch hunt

noun

Definition of witch hunt for English Language Learners

  • : the act of unfairly looking for and punishing people who are accused of having opinions that are believed to be dangerous or evil

Learn More about witch hunt

  1. See words that rhyme with witch hunt Nglish: Translation of witch hunt for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up witch hunt? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

satiety

play

fullness to the point of excess

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

witch hunt

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games