witchcraft
noun
witch·craft
ˈwich-ˌkraft 
1
a
: the use of sorcery or magic
b
: communication with the devil or with a familiar
2
: an irresistible influence or fascination
3
a
: rituals and practices that incorporate belief in magic and that are associated especially with neo-pagan traditions and religions (such as Wicca)
Practitioners of Wicca … use the tools … such as the broom (a purifying symbol), the wand, candles, crystals and the knife …. They refer to their practices as witchcraft …—
Lesley Wright
Lesley Wright
b
or less commonly Witchcraft
: a tradition or religion that involves the practice of witchcraft
Feminist witchcraft sees women's oppression and environmental abuse, which they argue are intimately linked, as firmly rooted in patriarchal religions.—Wendy Griffin
Wendy GriffinWicca, which emerged in the 1940s in England, is the original form of modern Pagan Witchcraft.—Meg Yardley
Meg YardleyExamples of witchcraft in a Sentence
taught all of her daughters witchcraft
Recent Examples on the Web
In this eerie tale about fear, lust, and female empowerment, the real question becomes whether this is an act of witchcraft—or a witch hunt.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
Laura’s empty swimming pool comes in for a major metaphorical workout, and the film is dotted with memes and totems of a kind of witchcraft we’re never given the full decoder ring to.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 May 2025
In the film, rotoscope animation sets the stage for 17th century story about a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 May 2025
The sisters lean into their legacy of witchcraft to battle evil in the form of a devilish ex-boyfriend.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for witchcraft
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Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
Laura’s empty swimming pool comes in for a major metaphorical workout, and the film is dotted with memes and totems of a kind of witchcraft we’re never given the full decoder ring to.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 16 May 2025
In the film, rotoscope animation sets the stage for 17th century story about a woman accused of witchcraft whose trial reveals the presence of a werewolf in a deeply religious Livonian community’s midst.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 May 2025
The sisters lean into their legacy of witchcraft to battle evil in the form of a devilish ex-boyfriend.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for witchcraft
Cite this Entry
“Witchcraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witchcraft. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
witchcraft
noun
witch·craft
-ˌkraft
: the use of sorcery or magic
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