horror show

noun

: something difficult to deal with or watch
the trial was a horror show

Examples of horror show in a Sentence

The trial has been a horror show.
Recent Examples on the Web The Tar Heels experienced the ultimate horror show in the Sweet 16, losing as the No. 1 seed (to No. 4 Alabama) as their two biggest rivals, Duke and N.C. State, advanced to the Elite Eight. Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024 In season 4 of Netflix's science-fiction horror show, Englund played the blind Victor Creel, a resident of Pennhurst Asylum. Clark Collis, EW.com, 5 June 2023 Argyle’s California stoner vibes and yellow Surfer Boy Pizza van were well-received by fans of the often serious sci-fi horror show. Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2024 Allen recalled witnessing a horror show in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024 So, at least for now, The Fall of the House of Usher marks their last Netflix horror show. Nick Romano, EW.com, 10 Aug. 2023 Those burdensome things didn’t endear him to many and with him now a distant memory, the page can be turned on a chapter that wound up having more of a horror show vibe than a feel-good script. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Feb. 2024 But rehearsing for the show has been anything but a horror show. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023 Romain Duris plays a filmmaker hired to do a live one-take 30-minute horror show and chaos reigns when many things go awry, from camera mishaps to an undead extra's bout with diarrhea. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'horror show.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of horror show was circa 1959

Dictionary Entries Near horror show

Cite this Entry

“Horror show.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horror%20show. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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