Red-baiting is a term used to describe the act of accusing someone of being a communist or sympathizing with communist ideas. This term is often used to discredit or attack individuals or groups who hold leftist or socialist beliefs. Synonyms for red-baiting include witch-hunting, McCarthyism, communist-baiting, and pinko-hunting. These terms are typically used to describe political tactics that are intended to vilify or marginalize people based on their political beliefs. In recent times, red-baiting has become more prevalent in political discourse, especially in the United States, where accusations of socialist sympathies have become a common tactic for some political groups.