horror story

noun

: an account of an unsettling or unfortunate occurrence
heard horror stories about recent layoffs
also : something unsettling or unfortunate
his childhood was a horror story

Examples of horror story in a Sentence

We've all heard horror stories about airlines losing people's luggage. Her childhood was a horror story.
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.
California 5 dead, more than 1,100 structures destroyed as firestorm besieges L.A. County 16 minutes ago After any natural disaster, horror stories invariably crop up about insurance companies skimping or dragging their feet on payments to vulnerable homeowners. Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025 The worst of the worst came out in reporter Todd Price's monthly roundup of restaurant health inspection horror stories. Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024 Walker, the maritime lawyer who also runs an advocacy website called Cruise Law News, says he is astonished at how vigorously people defend the cruise companies despite the horror stories. Bridget Read, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2024 In this unregulated space, however, horror stories abound of coaches and team owners breaking promises and absconding with players’ money, including in Etienne’s league. Chris Quintana, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for horror story 

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of horror story was in 1937

Dictionary Entries Near horror story

Cite this Entry

“Horror story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horror%20story. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

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