Mc·Car·thy·ism (m -kär th - z m)n. 1. The practice of publicizing accusations of political disloyalty or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence. 2. The use of unfair investigatory or accusatory methods in order to suppress opposition. [After Joseph Raymond McCarthy.] Mc·Car thy·ist n. |
McCarthyism [məˈkɑːθɪˌɪzəm]
n Chiefly US
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the practice of making unsubstantiated accusations of disloyalty or Communist leanings
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the use of unsupported accusations for any purpose
[after Joseph Raymond McCarthy (1908-57), US Republican senator, who led (1950-54) the notorious investigations of alleged Communist infiltration into the US government]
McCarthyite n & adj
McCarthyism
1. U.S. the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, especially of pro-Communist activity, often unsupported or based on doubtful evidence.
2. any attempt to restrict political criticism or individual dissent by claiming it to be unpatriotic or pro-Communist.
See also: Politics
2. any attempt to restrict political criticism or individual dissent by claiming it to be unpatriotic or pro-Communist.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | McCarthyism - unscrupulously accusing people of disloyalty (as by saying they were Communists) witch-hunt - searching out and harassing dissenters |
Translations
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