Word: lurid (adjective)

Associations

"Lurid" describes something very bright, shocking, or vivid, often in a way that is unpleasant or causes strong emotions. It can refer to colors, stories, or descriptions that are intense and sometimes disturbing.

• The movie had lurid scenes that were hard to watch. (Here, "lurid" means shocking and vivid.)
• She told a lurid story about the accident. (The story is very detailed and shocking.)
• The house was painted in lurid colors like bright orange and neon green. (The colors are very bright and maybe too much.)

A synonym is "gruesome," but "gruesome" focuses more on something horrible or causing horror, while "lurid" is broader and can mean very bright or shocking in general, not only scary or horrible.

Substitution

Instead of "lurid," you could say:

• shocking (when you want to stress surprise or horror)
• vivid (if you focus on bright or strong colors)
• sensational (if you talk about stories or news that are made to attract attention)

Each word changes the meaning a bit. For example, "vivid" is more neutral and only about brightness, while "shocking" is more about surprise or horror.

Deconstruction

The word "lurid" comes from Latin "luridus," meaning pale yellow or ghastly. It originally described a pale, sickly color but now means something glaringly vivid or sensational, often with a negative feeling.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where you saw something "lurid"? Was it colors, a story, or something else?
• How would you describe a "lurid" advertisement or news article? Why might someone use this style?
• Do you think "lurid" always has a negative meaning, or can it sometimes be positive? Why?