chamber of horrors

American  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of chamber of horrors

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

But there are other incredibly elastic principles that we’ve become so familiar with in this chamber of horrors, especially as part of the shadow docket.

From Slate • Dec. 5, 2025

“In the paintings and drawings of this chamber of horrors, there is no telling what was in the sick brains of those who wielded the brush or the pencil,” the catalog explained.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2025

This time, however, one of the least hospitable road stops in the NFL did not prove to be a chamber of horrors.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2018

Prime Minister Enda Kenny has addressed parliament about the Tuam mass grave, which he called a "chamber of horrors".

From Reuters • Mar. 9, 2017

Cora told Caesar that on seeing the chains, she feared Fletcher had conspired with Terrance from the very beginning and that they had been conveyed to a chamber of horrors.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead