chamber of horrors

noun

1. a place for the exhibition of gruesome or horrible objects.
2. a group of such objects, as instruments of torture or murder.
3. any collection of things or ideas that inspire horror.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chamber of horrors¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

A credulous media exacerbated the hysteria with “an echo chamber of horrors,” in the words of Times media critic David Shaw, who eviscerated the pack-journalism coverage.

From Los Angeles Times

Artists from Madame Tussauds were also in courtroom number one, sketching the two latest villains the attraction hoped to install in its Chamber of Horrors.

From BBC

They were removed from the Chamber of Horrors in the 1980s.

From BBC

From Marie Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion to horror-themed escape rooms, haunted house attractions have terrified and delighted audiences around the world for more than 200 years.

From Scientific American

When Ryan Murphy first announced that he'd be adding the story of Jeffrey Dahmer to his chamber of horrors alongside a new season of "American Horror Story" and upcoming miniseries, "The Watcher," the gut check first reaction from many was to question, "Why?"

From Salon