Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

witch-hunt

noun

/wɪtʃ hʌnt/

Definition

A campaign directed against a person or group with unfounded accusations and harsh criticism.

Examples

The investigation turned into a political witch-hunt, targeting opposition leaders.
Many claim that the media’s coverage of the event was simply a witch-hunt against the accused.
She felt that the rumors about her were part of a witch-hunt orchestrated by jealous coworkers.

Meaning

The term originated from the historical persecution of witches and has come to signify an effort to control, persecute, or vilify people based on largely false premises often driven by fear or prejudice.