lurid

adjective lu·rid \ˈlu̇r-əd\

: causing shock or disgust : involving sex or violence in a way that is meant to be shocking

: shining or glowing with a bright and unpleasant color

Full Definition of LURID

a : causing horror or revulsion : gruesome

b : melodramatic, sensational; also : shocking <paperbacks in the usual lurid covers — T. R. Fyvel>

a : wan and ghastly pale in appearance

b : of any of several light or medium grayish colors ranging in hue from yellow to orange

: shining with the red glow of fire seen through smoke or cloud

— lu·rid·ly adverb

— lu·rid·ness noun

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Origin of LURID

Latin luridus pale yellow, sallow

First Known Use: 1603

Related to LURID

Synonyms: appalling, atrocious, awful, dreadful, frightful, ghastly, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), hideous, horrendous, horrid, horrific, horrifying, horrible, macabre, monstrous, nightmare, nightmarish, shocking, terrible, terrific

Antonyms: blooming, florid, flush, full-blooded, glowing, red, rosy, rubicund, ruddy, sanguine

Synonym Discussion of 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>.