lurid
adjective
lu·rid ˈlu̇r-əd 
1
a
: causing horror or revulsion : gruesome
The tabloids gave all the lurid details of floating wreckage and dismembered bodies.
b
: melodramatic, sensational
also : shocking
paperbacks in the usual lurid covers 
T. R. Fyvel
T. R. Fyvel 2
a
: wan and ghastly pale in appearance
frightened to death by the lurid waxworks Sara H. Hay
Sara H. Hay b
: of any of several light or medium grayish colors ranging in hue from yellow to orange
3
: shining with the red glow of fire seen through smoke or cloud
lurid flames
luridly adverb
luridness noun
Synonyms
- appalling
- atrocious
- awful
- dreadful
- frightful
- ghastly
- grisly
- gruesome
- grewsome
- hideous
- horrendous
- horrible
- horrid
- horrific
- horrifying
- macabre
- monstrous
- nightmare
- nightmarish
- shocking
- terrible
- terrific
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a lurid tale of violence and betrayal the lurid lighting of a nightclub The light from the fire cast a lurid glow on everything.
Recent Examples on the Web The lurid media attention made D&D a household name. Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Outside, a lurid amethyst haze blankets the city, casting a purplish hue over everything and requiring anyone who leaves home to wear a mask. The New Yorker, 29 June 2022 There’s also a good amount of raw violence in this show, and no lack of harsh language, but Delhi Crime doesn’t feel lurid or exploitative. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2022 This lurid language is a cousin to the theological zealotry that inspires radicals to lash out against writers. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 The damages award capped off a lurid week-and-a-half trial in which Mr. Jones and his lawyer sparred with the plaintiffs and were repeatedly admonished by the judge for breaking the rules of the court. Rob Copeland, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 The front-runner for the Arizona gubernatorial nomination is a full-on election truther who is wielding her lurid conspiracy theories as a weapon in the primary. The Editors, National Review, 1 Aug. 2022 On Monday, Bolsonaro gathered foreign diplomats in the capital of Brasília to lay out a lurid theory of how the country's voting machines are rigged. David Faris, The Week, 21 July 2022 In contrast to the lurid sensationalism of Hulu’s other recent docuseries about a trendy millennial brand (at this rate, can a searing exposé on Juicy Couture be far behind?), this one is ambitious in scope and sober in tone. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 July 2022 See More
Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Outside, a lurid amethyst haze blankets the city, casting a purplish hue over everything and requiring anyone who leaves home to wear a mask. The New Yorker, 29 June 2022 There’s also a good amount of raw violence in this show, and no lack of harsh language, but Delhi Crime doesn’t feel lurid or exploitative. Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2022 This lurid language is a cousin to the theological zealotry that inspires radicals to lash out against writers. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 The damages award capped off a lurid week-and-a-half trial in which Mr. Jones and his lawyer sparred with the plaintiffs and were repeatedly admonished by the judge for breaking the rules of the court. Rob Copeland, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 The front-runner for the Arizona gubernatorial nomination is a full-on election truther who is wielding her lurid conspiracy theories as a weapon in the primary. The Editors, National Review, 1 Aug. 2022 On Monday, Bolsonaro gathered foreign diplomats in the capital of Brasília to lay out a lurid theory of how the country's voting machines are rigged. David Faris, The Week, 21 July 2022 In contrast to the lurid sensationalism of Hulu’s other recent docuseries about a trendy millennial brand (at this rate, can a searing exposé on Juicy Couture be far behind?), this one is ambitious in scope and sober in tone. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin luridus pale yellow, sallow
First Known Use
1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
lurid
adjective
lu·rid ˈlu̇r-əd
1
: causing shock or disgust
a lurid story
2
: glowing with an overly bright color
lurid neon lights
lurid
adjective
1
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent thank you for sparing us from the lurid details of the story Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- gruesome
- horrific
- shocking
- horrifying
- grisly
- frightening
- hideous
- terrifying
- horrible
- macabre
- ghastly
- dreadful
- nightmare
- terrible
- horrid
- nightmarish
- appalling
- awful
- terrific
- sickening
- scary
- monstrous
- frightful
- disgusting
- horrendous
- atrocious
- obscene
- grotesque
- alarming
- grewsome
- loathsome
- ugly
- revolting
- repulsive
- nauseating
- heinous
- fearful
- dire
- intimidating
- vile
- bloodcurdling
- unspeakable
- repugnant
- forbidding
- abominable
- odious
- obnoxious
- hair-raising
- noxious
- distasteful
- offensive
- deplorable
- direful
- abhorrent
- gut-wrenching
- fearsome
- disagreeable
- formidable
- heart-stopping
- noisome
- evil
- redoubtable
- unsightly
- foul
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- attractive
- delightful
- pleasant
- enticing
- delicious
- appealing
- delectable
- satisfying
- agreeable
- pleasing
- enjoyable
- pleasurable
- welcome
- inviting
- soothing
- comforting
- cheering
2
as in pallid
lacking a healthy skin color the doctor was alarmed by the patient's lurid complexion was lurid after a long winter spent indoors Synonyms & Similar Words
- pallid
- pale
- paled
- ashen
- cadaverous
- pasty
- blanched
- livid
- doughy
- ashy
- wan
- white
- mealy
- waxy
- sick
- waxen
- sickly
- sallow
- peaked
- anemic
- bloodless
- sallowish
- whitened
- untanned
- whey-faced
- white-faced
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- florid
- red
- rosy
- ruddy
- sanguine
- glowing
- blooming
- pink
- flush
- rubicund
- flushed
- blushing
- full-blooded
3
as in sensational
arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction the lurid news reports about the romance between the two Hollywood stars Synonyms & Similar Words
- sensational
- sensationalistic
- juicy
- colorful
- sensationalist
- screaming
- theatrical
- dramatic
- catchpenny
- shocking
- theatric
- gee-whiz
- suggestive
- gory
- racy
- melodramatic
- histrionic
- vulgar
- catchy
- coarse
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- innocuous
- tame
- inoffensive
- nonsensational
- restrained
- proper
- formal
- dignified
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of lurid are ghastly, grisly, gruesome, and macabre. While all these words mean "horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect," lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder.
the lurid details of a crime
While the synonyms ghastly and lurid are close in meaning, ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.
a ghastly accident
Both grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.
an unusually grisly murder
suffered a gruesome death
The synonyms macabre and lurid are sometimes interchangeable, but macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.
a macabre tale of premature burial