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

2

a

: wan and ghastly pale in appearance

frightened to death by the lurid waxworks

—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

• gruesome
• horrific
• shocking

Choose the Right Synonym for lurid

ghastly, grisly, gruesome, macabre, lurid mean horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect.

ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

grisly and gruesome suggest additionally the results of extreme violence or cruelty.

an unusually grisly murder

suffered a gruesome death

macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder.

the lurid details of a crime

Examples of lurid in a Sentence

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

But Devil in Disguise is no Monster, opting against portraying most of the murders and the more lurid aspects of Gacy’s life, such as his time performing as a clown, in favor of spotlighting his victims. —Derek Lawrence, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025

But the Grand Dame of the mystery novel wouldn’t have dreamt up such a lurid and disturbing crime. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025

Like many other recent true crime adaptions, the show has nothing to say, and there's zero artistry in its lurid retelling of a man murdering his wife and son. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025

In a promotional video, the founder showed off an office chess set, beers brewed from lurid blue Yunnan mushrooms and a small library stocked with quantum mechanics textbooks. —Lavender Au, The Dial, 7 Oct. 2025

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

a

: causing horror or disgust : gruesome

lurid tales of murder

b

: sensational sense 2

lurid book covers

2

: lifelessly pale : wan

3

: shining with the red glow of fire seen through smoke

luridly adverb

luridness noun