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.
This wasn’t the rewrite of a horror story that began more than a decade ago. Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026 As Violette has suggested more than once, these images have a zombielike quality, and the reanimation of the dead is always a horror story. Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026 In the psychological horror story, ambitious young psychiatrist Parker attempts to make a name for himself by treating Josephine Todd (Berry), the famously incurable patient at his hospital. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026 There's a horror story brewing every morning during mid-winter when the obligatory weather app check comes around. Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 25 Jan. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Horror story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horror%20story. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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