witch hunter
/ˈwɪtʃ ˌhʌntər/
noun
- A person who searches for and persecutes people believed to be witches, especially in historical contexts.
- Many innocent people were executed because of the witch-hunter's accusations.
- The witch-hunter claimed he could identify witches by their marks.
- In the 1600s, a witch-hunter traveled from town to town accusing people of witchcraft.
- A person who unfairly accuses or persecutes others for their beliefs, opinions, or background, often for political or social reasons.
- The committee acted like a witch-hunter, looking for anyone with different ideas.
- During the Red Scare, witch-hunters ruined the careers of many innocent people.
- The senator was called a witch-hunter for targeting journalists who criticized him.
Synonyms