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
And with both projects, Barbato tells Vanity Fair, their goal as filmmakers wasn’t to further sensationalize an already lurid crime.
—
Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
The free flow of information is the lifeblood of the world’s third largest financial center, after New York and London, and Apple Daily — for all its lurid crime stories and salacious gossip — was among a litany of outlets holding government officials to account.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
And yes, there’s a temptation to be just as lurid as the father in doing so, because what director Karim Aïnouz achieves here visually is unreal in every sense of the word.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
But go for the electric atmosphere, the camaraderie of fans all wearing their lurid synthetic jerseys, and the gravitational pleasure of cheering for a team at its home ground (or indeed, the subversive thrill of cheering for the away team).
—Samanth Subramanian, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lurid
Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026
The free flow of information is the lifeblood of the world’s third largest financial center, after New York and London, and Apple Daily — for all its lurid crime stories and salacious gossip — was among a litany of outlets holding government officials to account.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
And yes, there’s a temptation to be just as lurid as the father in doing so, because what director Karim Aïnouz achieves here visually is unreal in every sense of the word.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
But go for the electric atmosphere, the camaraderie of fans all wearing their lurid synthetic jerseys, and the gravitational pleasure of cheering for a team at its home ground (or indeed, the subversive thrill of cheering for the away team).
—Samanth Subramanian, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lurid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurid
Adjective
-
Getting cleared of a gruesome crime has boosted his social cache in his upper-class neighborhood of Westmont Village, a fictional New York suburb.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2026
-
And in another gruesome moment, there is a frightening shot of dozens of wedding guests covered in blood, with bodies strewn across a banquet hall.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His practical advice fares better than both his theories and his pallid attempts at profundity.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Out of the bloodstains shone a pair of bright blue eyes, and a heart was beating under the pallid skin that looked several sizes too big.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After Ohtani’s first-inning walk — which extended his overall on-base streak to 37 games — the Dodgers’ sensational leadoff man went 0 for 3 at the plate, including being called out on a challenge that resulted in a double play in the sixth inning.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
That immediacy is a sensational feeling and hard to replicate any other way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The horrific shooting has rocked the Plainville community, with its reverberations being felt throughout the state.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
-
A lot of his struggles stemmed from the Raiders’ horrific offensive line.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Hours and hours of rolling green hills and rice paddies passed by the windows, the pale pools amid the shoots flashing bits of sky.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Many of the biblical references, including the rider of the pale horse, come from the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, which is ostensibly about the second coming of Christ and judgment day.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Spicy Chicken Sandwich features a juicy marinated chicken breast breaded in a fiery blend of spices and topped with lettuce and tomatoes to cool things down.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Marin stuck to her plan of staying close until a moment that changed everything with shocking swiftness — her changing her mind and going for the green on the par-5 13th for a go-ahead birdie, and Talley adding to the sad history of collapses on the back nine at the home of the Masters.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Emma’s shocking admission rattles the entire wedding party, particularly Haim’s Rachel, whose cousin was left paralyzed by an act of gun violence.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her lab is pioneering colorful interactive models developed with an advanced MRI scan and other data from each patient.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
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There’s no such thing as having too many journals, so a personalized journal, along with a colorful new pen or two, would be perfect for creative types.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lurid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurid. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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