1
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
thank you for sparing us from the lurid details of the story
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pallid
lacking a healthy skin color
the doctor was alarmed by the patient's lurid complexion was lurid after a long winter spent indoors
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sensational
arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction
the lurid news reports about the romance between the two Hollywood stars
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lurid
And with both projects, Barbato tells Vanity Fair, their goal as filmmakers wasn’t to further sensationalize an already lurid crime.
—
Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
The free flow of information is the lifeblood of the world’s third largest financial center, after New York and London, and Apple Daily — for all its lurid crime stories and salacious gossip — was among a litany of outlets holding government officials to account.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
And yes, there’s a temptation to be just as lurid as the father in doing so, because what director Karim Aïnouz achieves here visually is unreal in every sense of the word.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
But go for the electric atmosphere, the camaraderie of fans all wearing their lurid synthetic jerseys, and the gravitational pleasure of cheering for a team at its home ground (or indeed, the subversive thrill of cheering for the away team).
—Samanth Subramanian, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lurid
Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
The free flow of information is the lifeblood of the world’s third largest financial center, after New York and London, and Apple Daily — for all its lurid crime stories and salacious gossip — was among a litany of outlets holding government officials to account.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
And yes, there’s a temptation to be just as lurid as the father in doing so, because what director Karim Aïnouz achieves here visually is unreal in every sense of the word.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
But go for the electric atmosphere, the camaraderie of fans all wearing their lurid synthetic jerseys, and the gravitational pleasure of cheering for a team at its home ground (or indeed, the subversive thrill of cheering for the away team).
—Samanth Subramanian, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lurid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurid
Adjective
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The gruesome images of tanks blown apart by drones in Ukraine did not dissuade anyone from purchasing these systems.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Because of his ability to appeal to jurors with at times folksy explanations of gruesome subjects like the dynamic of blood spatter, prosecution and defense lawyers competed for his testimony at trials.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His practical advice fares better than both his theories and his pallid attempts at profundity.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Out of the bloodstains shone a pair of bright blue eyes, and a heart was beating under the pallid skin that looked several sizes too big.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Jurors also considered Meta’s failure to enforce its ban on users under 13, the role of its algorithms in prioritizing sensational or harmful content, and the prevalence of social media content about teen suicide.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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There’s a lot riding on the sensational K-pop group’s first album in four years, but its generic songs ring hollow and lack the vim and vigor of the band’s best work.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The horrific shooting has rocked the Plainville community, with its reverberations being felt throughout the state.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
-
A lot of his struggles stemmed from the Raiders’ horrific offensive line.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Hours and hours of rolling green hills and rice paddies passed by the windows, the pale pools amid the shoots flashing bits of sky.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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Many of the biblical references, including the rider of the pale horse, come from the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, which is ostensibly about the second coming of Christ and judgment day.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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These are considered some of the coolest wine-growing regions in California, and the style here tends to be juicier, fruitier, and more full-bodied than Burgundian Pinot Noir.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
26 Mar. 2026
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Any kind of Joseph Campbell's really juicy and meaty.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The exhibition pairs their work together, showing the value of shocking style in a moment of conservatism.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
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Pastor Stephen Perumalla said the circumstances are shocking.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The poster for Norwood Park features the distinctive, colorful exterior of the Superdawg drive-in hot dog stand.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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The alternative rock band sang about love, mental health, heartbreak and personal triumph, inspiring the colorful crowd.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lurid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurid. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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