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.
Dog owners have shared horror stories about the lingering stink. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 From sky-high heels and stiff business attire to bulky belts and even barefoot passengers (yes, that happens), these in-flight missteps can lead to unnecessary discomfort—or worse, a hygiene horror story. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026 Starring Sadie Sink and Zoë Kravitz, the interactive, immersive horror story isn’t a video game in the sense that most people might be familiar with — there’s no console to buy or controller to learn. Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026 Shortly after its April 10, 2026 rollout, there was brief moment of pleasant surprise in the travel industry and things seemed smooth with the occasional anecdotal horror story, but that was one of the most off-peak times for travel to Europe. Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Horror story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horror%20story. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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