View synonyms for lurid

lurid

[ loor-id ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

gruesome; horrible; revolting:
the lurid details of an accident.
glaringly vivid or sensational; shocking:
the lurid tales of pulp magazines.
terrible in intensity, fierce passion, or unrestraint:
lurid crimes.
lighted or shining with an unnatural, fiery glow; wildly or garishly red:
a lurid sunset.
wan, pallid, or ghastly in hue; livid.
Synonyms: murky, pale, dismal

lurid

/ ˈlʊərɪd; ˈljʊərɪd /

Origin of lurid¹

First recorded in 1650–60, lurid is from the Latin word lūridus sallow, ghastly

Origin of lurid¹

C17: from Latin lūridus pale yellow; probably related to lūtum a yellow vegetable dye

This lurid embrace of art and life was not an isolated thunderclap.

As she walked through the camp streets, she turned away lurid leers with a troubled glance.

Then the locals arrived for water aerobics conducted by a Riviera coach in lurid pink-and-black Lycra to French pop.

When my house got broken into, my political convictions were instantly replaced with lurid revenge fantasies.

Late one August night in 2006, the always-lurid New York City tabloids had a story on their hands.

It was the darkest hour of twilight, when there was just enough of gleam from the lurid sky, to shew the outline of objects.

A lurid spot on each cheek showed burning red through the bronze of his skin.

The economics of war, therefore, has thrown its lurid light upon the economics of peace.

John Dickinson saw the matter in the same light, a light which his superior abilities enabled him to portray in more lurid colors.

Eloise in her corner was holding fast to the strap, when a lurid flame filled the carriage for an instant with a blaze of light.

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