McCarthyism

noun

Mc·​Car·​thy·​ism mə-ˈkär-thē-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce McCarthyism (audio)
 also  -ˈkär-tē-
: a mid-20th century political attitude characterized chiefly by opposition to elements held to be subversive and by the use of tactics involving personal attacks on individuals by means of widely publicized indiscriminate allegations especially on the basis of unsubstantiated charges
broadly : defamation of character or reputation through such tactics
McCarthyist
mə-ˈkär-thē-ist How to pronounce McCarthyism (audio)
 also  -ˈkär-tē-
adjective
McCarthyite
mə-ˈkär-thē-ˌīt How to pronounce McCarthyism (audio)
 also  -ˈkär-tē-
noun or adjective

Examples of McCarthyism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But its juiciest political battles are fought in the 1950s, at the height of McCarthyism, an era of brazen opportunism and fear-mongering that still permeates American electoral politics. Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024 My Autobiography, Charles Chaplin (1964) Screen legend Charlie Chaplin wrote his first memoir, My Autobiography, a decade after he was forced to flee the U.S. to Switzerland at the height of McCarthyism. Shannon Carlin, TIME, 15 July 2024 In that Cold War era of McCarthyism, Bohm was brought before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC). Sidney Perkowitz, JSTOR Daily, 5 June 2024 Others will grow out of them and regret their youthful indiscretions but will be hurt because in their future careers, as former Communists were during McCarthyism. Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for McCarthyism 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'McCarthyism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Joseph R. McCarthy

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of McCarthyism was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near McCarthyism

Cite this Entry

“McCarthyism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/McCarthyism. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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