Meaning & Definition of word "Lurid"

Lurid

/ˈlʊr.ɪd/

adjective:

  • 1. Very vivid in color, especially so as to provoke or indicate unpleasantness.
    • Example: The artist used lurid colors that made the painting look almost unearthly.
  • 2. Presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms.
    • Example: The tabloids are known for their lurid headlines that attract attention to scandalous stories.
  • 3. Involving sexual or violent details that are meant to arouse interest or shock.
    • Example: The film was criticized for its lurid depictions of violence and sexual content.

Etymology

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

Common Phrases and Expressions

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.

Related Words

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.

Slang Meanings of lurid

Meaning: Overly dramatic or exaggerated.

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

Meaning: Shockingly explicit or graphic.

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