turgid

adjective

tur·​gid ˈtər-jəd 

1

: excessively embellished in style or language : bombastic, pompous

turgid prose

2

: being in a state of distension : swollen, tumid

turgid limbs

especially : exhibiting turgor

turgidity

ˌtər-ˈji-də-tē 

noun

turgidly

ˈtər-jəd-lē 

adverb

turgidness noun

Synonyms of turgid

• swollen

Examples of turgid in a Sentence

turgid leeches having had their fill of blood

Recent Examples on the Web

The Moroccans waded through mud in Rabat yesterday, navigating a turgid spell of normal time, extra-time and penalties to beat Nigeria in the other semi. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

Avery, the heroine of Anika Jade Levy’s debut novel, Flat Earth (Catapult, $26), spends many turgid nights with a pedant. —Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

Like many disaster movies, this is a turgid soap opera that’s blown apart by chaos. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025

The water, in the turgid, late afternoon light, was gray and swift. —Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin turgidus, from turgēre to be swollen

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

turgid

adjective

tur·​gid ˈtər-jəd 

1

: being in a swollen state

2

: exhibiting turgor

a turgid plant cell

Medical Definition

turgid

adjective

tur·​gid ˈtər-jəd 

: being in a normal or abnormal state of distension : swollen, tumid

turgid limbs

turgid living cells