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

Against the backdrop of poor results, turgid football, sky-high ticket prices and a lack of faith in the new-look board, fan unrest is growing. —Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026

This new singer recited turgid poetry over his new bandmates’ compositions, which erred towards brittle reggae and boogie. —Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 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

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