Synonyms of lurid

lurid

adjective

ˈlu̇r-əd 

1

as in gruesome

extremely disturbing or repellent

thank you for sparing us from the lurid details of the story

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gruesome
• horrific
• shocking
• horrible
• nightmare
• frightening
• terrible
• horrifying
• hideous
• terrifying
• grisly
• terrific
• dreadful
• macabre
• awful
• ghastly
• nightmarish
• appalling
• scary
• horrid
• sickening
• monstrous
• frightful
• disgusting
• horrendous
• atrocious
• alarming
• obscene
• ugly
• grotesque
• fearful
• dire
• loathsome
• repulsive
• revolting
• direful
• offensive
• formidable
• heinous
• forbidding
• obnoxious
• repugnant
• unspeakable
• deplorable
• odious
• vile
• abominable
• disagreeable
• intimidating
• bloodcurdling
• fearsome
• abhorrent
• distasteful
• gut-wrenching
• nauseating
• noxious
• hair-raising
• redoubtable
• evil
• heart-stopping
• noisome
• unsightly
• foul

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attractive
• pleasant
• delightful
• delicious
• appealing
• enticing
• welcome
• satisfying
• delectable
• agreeable
• enjoyable
• pleasurable
• pleasing
• inviting
• soothing
• comforting
• cheering

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

• pallid
• pale
• paled
• ashen
• cadaverous
• pasty
• blanched
• livid
• ashy
• doughy
• wan
• sick
• mealy
• white
• peaked
• waxy
• sallow
• waxen
• sickly
• anemic
• whitened
• bloodless
• sallowish
• untanned
• white-faced
• whey-faced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• red
• florid
• rosy
• ruddy
• sanguine
• glowing
• blooming
• flush
• pink
• rubicund
• full-blooded
• flushed
• blushing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sensational
• juicy
• colorful
• screaming
• sensationalistic
• sensationalist
• theatrical
• dramatic
• catchpenny
• gee-whiz
• shocking
• suggestive
• racy
• melodramatic
• gory
• catchy
• histrionic
• vulgar
• coarse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocuous
• tame
• inoffensive
• nonsensational
• proper
• formal
• dignified
• restrained

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

Recent Examples of lurid

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

That lurid fable was followed by 2023’s Pictures of Ghosts, an impressionistic documentary that told the parallel stories of Mendonça Filho’s life in movies and Recife’s decaying cinemas. —Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026

But the ongoing investigation will unpick years of lurid allegations about Mountbatten-Windsor’s ties to disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein. —Monique Mulima, Bloomberg, 19 Feb. 2026

The arrest of Andrew, who turned 66 on Thursday, heaps further embarrassment on Britain’s royal family following years of lurid allegations about his ties with Epstein that the former prince has consistently denied. —Lucy White, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026