McCarthyism

1 of 2

noun (1)

Mc·​Car·​thy·​ism mə-ˈkär-thē-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce McCarthyism (audio)
also -ˈkär-tē-
: a mid-20th century political attitude marked by opposition to elements held to be subversive and by the use of unsubstantiated and widely publicized personal attacks
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

McCarthyite

2 of 2

noun (2)

Mc·​Car·​thy·​ite mə-ˈkär-thē-ˌīt also -ˈkär-tē- How to pronounce McCarthyite (audio)
variants or less commonly McCarthyist
mə-ˈkär-thē-ist also -ˈkär-tē- How to pronounce McCarthyite (audio)
plural -s
: a person approving of or practicing McCarthyism

Examples of McCarthyism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
History shows that nothing good came out of McCarthyism. — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026 Bannon doesn’t see this as a departure from the original McCarthyism. — Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026 Spacey likened his predicament to the experiences of actors of yore, who were swept into the Hollywood blacklist as a result of McCarthyism. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2025 The Lilith Society becomes an escape, particularly as the legacy of McCarthyism hovers over the city. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for McCarthyism

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Joseph R. McCarthy

Noun (2)

Joseph R. McCarthy + English -ite or -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of McCarthyism was in 1950

Browse Nearby Words

McCarthy
McCarthyism
McCarthyite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“McCarthyism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/McCarthyism. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on McCarthyism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about McCarthyism

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