lurid
gb/lˈʊɹəd/ us/lˈʊɹəd/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
Shockingly graphic or sensational
very shocking, with unpleasant details
Usage pattern:
lurid [story/details/headline/account]
Common mistake:
Often confused with lucid (“clear, easy to understand”).
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.)
Collocations
lurid details
|lurid headline
|lurid account
|lurid story
|lurid allegations
|lurid rumors
|lurid descriptions
|lurid photos
|lurid coverage
|lurid revelations
Themes
media
|crime
|emotion
|writing
Examples
- The tabloid ran a lurid story about the actor’s private life.
- Witnesses complained that the documentary lingered on lurid details of the crime.
- Her memoir avoids lurid descriptions and focuses on recovery.
Learner examples
- The newspaper printed a lurid headline.
- I don’t like stories with lurid details.
adjective
C1
property
2
Unpleasantly bright and harsh
too bright in a way that looks bad
Usage pattern:
lurid [color/light/glow]
Common mistake:
Learners may use it for any bright color; it usually suggests something harsh, unnatural, or ugly.
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.)
Collocations
lurid colors
|lurid color
|lurid light
|lurid glow
|lurid neon
|lurid green
|lurid pink
|lurid yellow
|lurid makeup
|lurid posters
Themes
art_design
|appearance
|daily_life
Examples
- The room was lit by a lurid neon sign from the street.
- He showed up in a lurid green jacket that everyone noticed.
- A lurid orange glow hung over the city at sunset.
Learner examples
- The sign gave off a lurid light.
- Her dress was lurid pink.
adjective
C2
property
3
Overdramatic and cheap-looking
too dramatic or in bad taste
Usage pattern:
lurid [style/tone/scene/plot]
Common mistake:
This sense is close to ‘sensational’; here it can apply to style or tone even without graphic content.
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.)
Collocations
lurid tone
|lurid style
|lurid plot
|lurid melodrama
|lurid scene
|lurid imagery
|lurid prose
|lurid theatrics
Themes
art_design
|media
|emotion
Examples
- The novel’s lurid tone made the characters hard to take seriously.
- Critics disliked the film’s lurid melodrama and cheap effects.
- The podcast relies on lurid theatrics instead of careful reporting.
Learner examples
- The show felt lurid and unrealistic.
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.