1
as in gruesome
extremely disturbing or repellent
thank you for sparing us from the lurid details of the story
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lurid
The film instead evolves into a lurid knockoff of an early Coen-brothers work, something like Blood Simple with tablets.
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David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025
The news feeds occasionally cut to the boisterous arena, lit in lurid blood-red, as if showing MAGA’s id and superego in split screen.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Hunter Biden subsequently entered a surprise guilty plea last September to federal tax charges, averting a trial that would have showcased potentially lurid evidence on top of the salacious and unflattering details about his personal life aired during his earlier trial in Delaware.
—Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2025
But melodramatic fantasies about the end can also serve as a kind of lurid distraction from some of the more persistent problems at hand.
—Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lurid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurid
Adjective
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The gruesome murder occurred after an argument about fraudulent credit card charges, prosecutors said.—
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Over everything hovers the gruesome mystery of birth, that unnerving manifestation of female destiny by which a small person is formed within a larger one and bursts out like the alien in Alien.—
Adjective
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The Russian invasion of Ukraine won Vladimir Putin a certain admiration in countries of the global South, as well as among MAGA Americans, while Joe Biden’s appeals to democratic values seemed pallid and hypocritical.—
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The paintings are brushy and pallid, seemingly hinting at a dissatisfaction with commodified products such as these.—
Adjective
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Glenelg Country, which got a sensational 33-point performance from senior star Pat Curtin, fell to 20-7.—
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In one day alone, the actor wore five separate outfits—ranging from a sensational Alexander McQueen shearling coat to a mod Celine skirt suit and a brown leather Loewe trapeze jacket.—
Adjective
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Once the fighting stops the horrific Russian losses of men and machines become daily additions to the armed forces.—
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On the left, contemporary progressives have denounced the original progressive for his horrific opinions of black Americans.—
Adjective
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Abstract Tips Using one of spring’s hottest nail colors, Michelle creates a curved striped ombré look that slowly fades into a soft pale pink at the base.—
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Second place: An exam cram in green Saumya Khandelwal, India Saumya Khandelwal The green in this photo is what hits you first — the dress, the wall and then maybe the small pale rectangle on the screen.—
Adjective
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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.—
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Craft beer lovers can take it to the next level by pairing a pale ale with a juicy burger or enjoying a tart sour alongside a charcuterie board.—
Adjective
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So these recent revelations that Adams is willing to sacrifice our immigrant communities as part of his quid pro quo is shocking.—
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But even more shocking might be how Pryor, without missing a beat, puts his soon-to-be new boss in his place with help from a few choice words of his own.—
Adjective
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Boasting almost one million views, the slideshow shows the minuscule pup during his time at the shelter: dressed in brightly-colored sweaters, resting on colorful, warm blankets, and surrounded by toys—many of them bigger than him.—
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Gone are the rainbow dreads of yore with Clinton taking the stage in Chicago clad in a colorful robe and a t-shirt bearing an image of the iconic P-Funk mothership following an enthralling opening performance by the Windy City’s own Tamarie T. & Thee Elektra Kumpany.—
Cite this Entry
“Lurid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurid. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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