Lurid

/ˈlʊr.ɪd/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Very vivid in color, especially so as to provoke or indicate unpleasantness.

The artist used lurid colors that made the painting look almost unearthly.

Presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms.

The tabloids are known for their lurid headlines that attract attention to scandalous stories.

Involving sexual or violent details that are meant to arouse interest or shock.

The film was criticized for its lurid depictions of violence and sexual content.

From Latin 'luridus' meaning 'pale, dismal, ghastly'.

lurid details

Details that are shocking and sensational.

lurid tales

Stories that are sensational and often grotesque.

lurid imagination

An imagination that focuses on the grotesque or morbid.

vivid

Producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind.

grotesque

Comically or repulsively ugly or distorted.

sensational

Extraordinarily good or great; causing public interest and excitement.

Overly dramatic or exaggerated.

Her lurid storytelling made it hard to believe anything she said.

Shockingly explicit or graphic.

That movie was so lurid, I couldn’t watch it without cringing.