Original sentence: The term "Red Scare" is used by some advocates to portray opposition to Communist genocide overseas and Communist influence on US society in a belitting fashion, dismissing anti-communism as little other than feelings of fear (occasionally bordering on hysteria) that pervaded the citizens of the United States at the height of the Cold War
Edited sentence: The term "Red Scare" is commonly used to describe the feelings of fear (occasionally bordering on hysteria) that pervaded the citizens of the United States at the height of the Cold War