What does "witch-hunt" mean?
A search for people believed to be using sorcery or harmful magic, typically in order to persecute or punish them.
Witch-hunt
/ˈwɪtʃhʌnt/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A search for people believed to be using sorcery or harmful magic, typically in order to persecute or punish them.
- Grammar: witch-hunt is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: detection, harassment, hearing, inquiry.
- Usage evidence: To-night ye will see. It is the great witch-hunt, and many will be smelt out as wizards and slain.
How to use "witch-hunt"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "witch-hunt" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "witch-hunt" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "witch-hunt" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "witch-hunt" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "witch-hunt" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "detection" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "witch-hunt", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A search for people believed to be using sorcery or harmful magic, typically in order to persecute or punish them. historical
"To-night ye will see. It is the great witch-hunt, and many will be smelt out as wizards and slain."
- 2 searching out and harassing dissenters wordnet
- 3 An attempt to find and punish or harass a group of people perceived as a threat, usually on ideological or political grounds. broadly
"Rank-and-file Communists everywhere are led away on a senseless witch-hunt after 'Trotskyists'."
- 4 A public or political campaign or investigation which smears a person or group. broadly
"Even fewer people could believe that the UNCW administration would actually undertake a witch hunt against me, even going so far as to invoke their right to read my personal e-mails because they were on the university's system."
Verb
- 1 To perform a witch-hunt. informal
Example
"To-night ye will see. It is the great witch-hunt, and many will be smelt out as wizards and slain."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "witch-hunt"?
Common synonyms include: detection, harassment, hearing, inquiry, investigation, legwork.
How do you use "witch-hunt" in a sentence?
To-night ye will see. It is the great witch-hunt, and many will be smelt out as wizards and slain.
How do you pronounce "witch-hunt"?
Pronounced /ˈwɪtʃhʌnt/.
Etymology
From witch + hunt.