the practice of making unsubstantiated accusations of disloyalty or Communist leanings
2.
the use of unsupported accusations for any purpose
Derived forms
McCarthyite (McˈCarthyite)
noun, adjective
Word origin
C20: after Joseph McCarthy
McCarthyism in American English
(məˈkɑrθiˌɪzəm)
US
noun
the use of indiscriminate, often unfounded, accusations, sensationalism, inquisitorial investigative methods, etc., as in the suppression of political opponents portrayed as subversive
Derived forms
McCarthyite (McˈCarthyˌite)
adjective, noun
Word origin
after J. McCarthy, U.S. senator (1946-57), to whom such practices were attributed
Examples of 'McCarthyism' in a sentence
McCarthyism
- What, Janet asked herself, did the magazine's fair-minded, noble, and spirited disdain for McCarthyism mean if it did not mean action?