1
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
thank you for sparing us from the lurid details of the story
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The man in the middle of 2025’s most lurid political-media storm seems intent on riding it out in silence.
—
Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 Dec. 2025
At home, their lives could be just as lurid—perhaps nowhere more so than around Fort Bragg, in North Carolina, where the secretive Delta Force is headquartered.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
But the Grand Dame of the mystery novel wouldn’t have dreamt up such a lurid and disturbing crime.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
Like many other recent true crime adaptions, the show has nothing to say, and there's zero artistry in its lurid retelling of a man murdering his wife and son.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lurid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurid
Adjective
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Peter offers her not only logic — a picture in which all the parts, however gruesome, fit together — but salvation.—
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The prosecution argued that being on drugs didn't excuse the gruesome attack.—
Adjective
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In other words, our complexion is looking pallid, our skin is dry, and our overall appearance is just a little blah at the moment.—
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And try to summon, from our pallid, hazy situation, vistas of the sort that draw so sweet and pure a gaze.—
Adjective
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His downfield accuracy on a handful of throws down the stretch, after an entire season of taking an absolute beating in the pocket, has been sensational.—
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One of two daughters born in Paris to Louis and Anne-Marie Bardot, Brigitte, like Monroe, charted her course from successful model (the cover of Elle) to a credible, if not sensational, actress.—
Adjective
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Wednesday afternoon, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the shooting horrific.—
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From a horrific account of an asteroid hitting Earth to an evil AI computer capable of designing deadly activities, readers will face the dark and mysterious corners of the human experience.—
Adjective
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Egg yolks can range in color from pale yellow to deep orange.—
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Think pale hues with a sober gray tint or tranquil neutrals.—
Adjective
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Toronto’s defenders continue to allow juicy shots from the slot game after game.—
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.—
Adjective
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The shocking decision sends ripples through the Washington program and the college football transfer portal.—
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There are some great twists and turns leading to a shocking but very satisfying ending.—
Adjective
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Eating a variety of colorful fruits provides essential vitamins that help immune cells develop, communicate, and respond effectively.—
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When the colorful bracts on poinsettia plants fade, prune them away by cutting the bare stems at a leaf node.—
Cite this Entry
“Lurid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurid. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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