shilling shocker

noun

Meaning

An inexpensive, sensationalist piece of fiction or a pamphlet designed to thrill or frighten the reader.

Examples

The local library keeps a collection of Victorian shilling shockers that were once considered scandalous literature.
Critics dismissed the popular novella as nothing more than a crude shilling shocker meant to exploit the public's love for horror.

Synonyms: penny dreadful, pulp fiction, thriller, sensationalism

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shilling shocker

noun

Pronunciation: ˈʃɪlɪŋ ˈʃɒkər

Definition

An inexpensive, sensationalist piece of fiction or a pamphlet designed to thrill or frighten the reader.

Examples

The local library keeps a collection of Victorian shilling shockers that were once considered scandalous literature.
Critics dismissed the popular novella as nothing more than a crude shilling shocker meant to exploit the public's love for horror.
Many of the gothic stories published in the 19th century began their lives as cheap shilling shockers sold on street corners.

Synonyms of shilling shocker

Words with a similar meaning to shilling shocker:

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