Definition

Noun: A period of widespread fear and anxiety about the perceived threat of communism, particularly within a non-communist country, often leading to political repression and suspicion.

Usage

The term "red scare" is used to describe a specific historical phenomenon characterized by anti-communist hysteria. It is typically used as a singular noun phrase and is often capitalized when referring to specific historical instances.

Examples

• Historians often study the Red Scare of the 1950s in the United States.
• The senator's accusations were dismissed as mere red scare tactics.
• That era was defined by a pervasive red scare that affected many industries.

Advanced Usage

• "The Red Scare": When capitalized, this often refers specifically to two distinct periods in U.S. history: the First Red Scare (c. 1917–1920) following the Russian Revolution and the Second Red Scare (c. 1947–1957) during the early Cold War era, also known as McCarthyism.

Variants and Related Words

• McCarthyism (n): A specific period and practice within the Second Red Scare, characterized by sensational accusations of subversion without proper regard for evidence.
• Anti-communism (n): The opposition to communist ideologies, parties, or states, which forms the basis of a red scare.

Synonyms

• Anti-communist hysteria
• Communist witch hunt

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Witch hunt": A campaign directed against a person or group holding unorthodox or unpopular views, drawing a direct parallel to the investigative fervor of a red scare.
  • The political hearings were denounced as a modern-day witch hunt, reminiscent of a red scare.

Noun

1. a period of general fear of communists