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.
Two titles, Something Is Alive in My Attic and Strangers, A Plane and a Deadly Game, are horror stories. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026 With horror stories and red flags amplified on social media, Chan says trust levels are also lower than ever. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Their new Netflix true crime docuseries, Death of the Pastor’s Wife, tells a marital horror story ending with the 30-year-old woman’s death. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026 For decades, though, the horror story of the toddler who woke up one morning and could no longer walk has largely been confined to history books. — Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 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

Rhymes for horror story

See All Rhymes for horror story

Browse Nearby Words

horror show
horror story
horror-struck
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Horror story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horror%20story. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on horror story

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about horror story

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