Synonyms of lurid

lurid

adjective

ˈlu̇r-əd 

1

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent

thank you for sparing us from the lurid details of the story

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruesome
• horrific
• shocking
• nightmare
• horrible
• frightening
• horrifying
• terrible
• hideous
• terrifying
• terrific
• grisly
• dreadful
• macabre
• awful
• ghastly
• nightmarish
• appalling
• horrid
• scary
• sickening
• monstrous
• frightful
• disgusting
• horrendous
• atrocious
• grewsome
• obscene
• alarming
• fearful
• grotesque
• ugly
• loathsome
• repulsive
• dire
• revolting
• offensive
• formidable
• heinous
• forbidding
• obnoxious
• repugnant
• direful
• unspeakable
• deplorable
• odious
• vile
• abominable
• disagreeable
• intimidating
• bloodcurdling
• fearsome
• abhorrent
• distasteful
• gut-wrenching
• nauseating
• noxious
• hair-raising
• redoubtable
• evil
• heart-stopping
• noisome
• unsightly
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attractive
• pleasant
• delightful
• delicious
• appealing
• enticing
• welcome
• satisfying
• delectable
• agreeable
• enjoyable
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• inviting
• soothing
• comforting
• cheering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pallid
• pale
• paled
• ashen
• cadaverous
• pasty
• blanched
• livid
• ashy
• doughy
• wan
• sick
• mealy
• white
• peaked
• waxy
• sallow
• waxen
• sickly
• anemic
• whitened
• bloodless
• sallowish
• untanned
• white-faced
• whey-faced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• red
• florid
• rosy
• ruddy
• sanguine
• glowing
• blooming
• flush
• pink
• rubicund
• full-blooded
• flushed
• blushing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sensational
• juicy
• colorful
• screaming
• sensationalistic
• sensationalist
• theatrical
• theatric
• dramatic
• gee-whiz
• catchpenny
• suggestive
• shocking
• racy
• melodramatic
• gory
• catchy
• histrionic
• vulgar
• coarse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocuous
• tame
• inoffensive
• nonsensational
• proper
• formal
• dignified
• restrained

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lurid different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of lurid are ghastly, grisly, gruesome, and macabre. While all these words mean "horrifying and repellent in appearance or aspect," lurid adds to gruesome the suggestion of shuddering fascination with violent death and especially with murder.

the lurid details of a crime

When might ghastly be a better fit than lurid?

While the synonyms ghastly and lurid are close in meaning, ghastly suggests the terrifying aspects of corpses and ghosts.

a ghastly accident

How do grisly and gruesome relate to one another, in the sense of lurid?

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

an unusually grisly murder

suffered a gruesome death

Where would macabre be a reasonable alternative to lurid?

The synonyms macabre and lurid are sometimes interchangeable, but macabre implies a morbid preoccupation with the physical aspects of death.

a macabre tale of premature burial

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lurid

The outcome isn’t as fondly remembered as other King adaptations like Carrie or The Shining, but using the familiar zombie structure to comment on the universal fear and melancholy over death makes Pet Sematary a thoughtful, lurid affair. —Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 18 June 2025

Sequel films in the series grew even more lurid, and starred Alyssa Milano, Jaime Pressly, and Miriam McDonald. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 12 June 2025

On another work under way in her studio, the figure was barely visible: a lurid ear, parted lips, a nostril. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 June 2025

The director Doris Wishman was a renegade: a woman who made lurid exploitation films at a time when American underground cinema was a man’s playground. —Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 2 June 2025