lurid
gb/lˈʊɹəd/ us/lˈʊɹəd/
C1
English
szenzációhajhász, hatásvadász, ízléstelenül részletező, rikító, harsány, giccses, ízléstelenül túlzó
C1
1
Usage pattern:
lurid [story/details/headline/account]
The tabloid ran a lurid story about the actor’s private life.
A bulvárlap szenzációhajhász cikket hozott le a színész magánéletéről.
Witnesses complained that the documentary lingered on lurid details of the crime.
A tanúk arra panaszkodtak, hogy a dokumentumfilm túl sokáig időzött a bűntény sokkoló, szenzációhajhász részletein.
Her memoir avoids lurid descriptions and focuses on recovery.
Learner examples
The newspaper printed a lurid headline.
Az újság szenzációhajhász címet közölt.
I don’t like stories with lurid details.
Nem szeretem az ízléstelenül részletező történeteket.
Common mistake:
Often confused with lucid (“clear, easy to understand”).
Meaning
Shockingly graphic or sensational
Collocations
lurid details
|lurid headline
|lurid account
|lurid story
|lurid allegations
|lurid rumors
|lurid descriptions
|lurid photos
|lurid coverage
|lurid revelations
Synonyms
sensational (Emphasizes being designed to shock or attract attention.)
|
salacious (More specifically about sexual interest or suggestiveness.)
|
grisly (More specifically about horrifying violence or death.)
Antonyms
restrained (Not exaggerated or shocking in tone.)
|
tasteful (Handled with decency and good judgment.)
|
matter-of-fact (Plain and unemotional, without sensationalism.)
Themes
media
|crime
|emotion
|writing
Definition
very shocking, with unpleasant details
Describing stories, descriptions, or images that are shocking because they focus on violent, sexual, or otherwise disturbing details, often in a sensational way.
C1
2
Usage pattern:
lurid [color/light/glow]
The room was lit by a lurid neon sign from the street.
A szobát az utcáról beszűrődő rikító neonfény világította meg.
He showed up in a lurid green jacket that everyone noticed.
Egy rikító zöld dzsekiben jelent meg, amit mindenki észrevett.
A lurid orange glow hung over the city at sunset.
Learner examples
The sign gave off a lurid light.
A tábla rikító fényt árasztott.
Her dress was lurid pink.
A ruhája rikító rózsaszín volt.
Common mistake:
Learners may use it for any bright color; it usually suggests something harsh, unnatural, or ugly.
Meaning
Unpleasantly bright and harsh
Collocations
lurid colors
|lurid color
|lurid light
|lurid glow
|lurid neon
|lurid green
|lurid pink
|lurid yellow
|lurid makeup
|lurid posters
Synonyms
garish (Strong sense of being tastelessly bright.)
|
glaring (Focuses on brightness that is hard to look at.)
|
gaudy (Often implies showiness and lack of taste.)
Antonyms
subtle (Not strong or harsh in color or effect.)
|
muted (Soft, not bright or intense.)
|
tasteful (Pleasing and not showy.)
Themes
art_design
|appearance
|daily_life
Definition
too bright in a way that looks bad
Having a very bright, harsh, or glaring color or light, often in an unpleasant or unnatural way.
C2
3
giccses
B2
Usage pattern:
lurid [style/tone/scene/plot]
The novel’s lurid tone made the characters hard to take seriously.
A regény giccses, túlzó hangvétele miatt nehéz volt komolyan venni a szereplőket.
Critics disliked the film’s lurid melodrama and cheap effects.
A kritikusoknak nem tetszett a film giccses melodrámája és olcsó effektjei.
The podcast relies on lurid theatrics instead of careful reporting.
Learner examples
The show felt lurid and unrealistic.
A műsor giccsesnek és valószerűtlennek hatott.
Common mistake:
This sense is close to ‘sensational’; here it can apply to style or tone even without graphic content.
Meaning
Overdramatic and cheap-looking
Collocations
lurid tone
|lurid style
|lurid plot
|lurid melodrama
|lurid scene
|lurid imagery
|lurid prose
|lurid theatrics
Synonyms
melodramatic (Focuses on exaggerated emotion and drama.)
|
tawdry (Emphasizes cheapness and bad taste.)
|
overblown (Emphasizes excessive, inflated style.)
Antonyms
understated (Deliberately not dramatic or showy.)
|
dignified (Calm, respectable, and not in poor taste.)
Themes
art_design
|media
|emotion
Definition
too dramatic or in bad taste
Appearing exaggerated, melodramatic, or cheap and in poor taste, especially in style or presentation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lurid
IPA
GB/lˈʊɹəd/
US/lˈʊɹəd/
Syllables & stress
lur - id (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (lur)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: lurid
Word family
Core family
luridly
adverb C1
Advanced or less common
luridness
noun
Expressions
in lurid detail
1/ˈɪn lˈʊɹəd dˈiteɪl/
fixed phrase
With shocking, graphic specifics
with lots of shocking details
Examples
- He described the accident in lurid detail, making everyone uncomfortable.
- The article recounts the scandal in lurid detail.
- She refused to talk about the assault in lurid detail.
Learner examples
- He told the story in lurid detail.