Definition of luridnext
1
2
3

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lurid But though Marcloid has continued to refine her extravagant, gonzo, and lurid sound—the blast beats and guttural shrieks slot into the Tupperware synths and call-waiting arpeggios with more supple flexibility than ever before—Lavender Networks is still far from commercial. Reed Jackson, SPIN, 8 May 2026 My friends had made the man sound an ancient mariner, an invalid widower, near dead from a lurid litany of injuries. Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026 The Cascio’s lawsuit paints a lurid picture of Jackson giving the siblings drugs and alcohol and exposing them to child pornography, all to help facilitate the abuse and manipulation. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 The electricity of this Ivanov can sometimes give it a lurid, Frankenstein-ish quality, and the unabashed intensity works. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lurid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurid
Adjective
  • Chris Brown was found liable by a Los Angeles jury on Tuesday for $13 million in the gruesome case of a dog that mauled and disfigured his housekeeper at his home in 2020.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 1 July 2026
  • But as the days dragged on, headlines about power outages and water shortages took a back seat to a far more gruesome and horrific reality.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Opponents of the proposal want the county to consider different locations for the park site, arguing the project may harm a variety of native species to the area, including the western spadefoot toad and pallid bats.
    Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2026
  • While disrupting the business of an American multinational company may seem a pallid response to the destruction of an Iranian primary school where more than a hundred children were killed, such asymmetric attacks in the physical and digital realms have been a feature of this conflict.
    Sue Halpern, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The small island nation made its World Cup debut this year with a sensational game against Spain, one of the countries considered a favorite to win the tournament.
    Doha Madani, NBC news, 26 June 2026
  • In the evenings we were treated to sensational auroral displays.
    Marc Terziev, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • Chicago city officials have never forgotten the lessons of the historic and horrific heat wave of July 1995, which killed 739 people in the Chicago area.
    Darius Johnson, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • Many of these countries are well known for horrific human rights abuses, lack of justice and abysmal detention conditions.
    Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • That’s also when a Seattle gastroenterologist named Walter Voegtlin published a pale volume with a drawing of a loincloth-wearing hominid on the cover.
    David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026
  • Bartlett’s character is like a rock slab, a vestige of an ancient religion, brought to life in overlapping strips of muslin, linen, and leather in shades of dove, cream, gray, and pale blue, with his hood pulled tight around his face and his hands wrapped in mittens.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • An adventure with worms, good fat juicy old-time earthworms, moist and sexy and leaving their mucus on you.
    Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • And last but not least, this fun and juicy rom-com is another delightful offering from Lily Chu — an audio darling whose Audible editions are narrated by Hamilton alum Philippa Soo.
    Nissa Renzo, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Cape Verde began this run by making a statement, producing a shocking 0-0 draw against soccer powerhouse Spain on June 15 in its first-ever World Cup match.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Adjective
  • The coast is dotted with colorful fishing villages, while the region’s interior is made up of rolling green hills and gently sloped vineyards.
    Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
  • Fast-food chain Sonic, for instance, has a timely deal and colorful commemorative cups.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lurid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurid. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on lurid

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster