Lurid
/ˈlʊrɪd/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Lurid means very bright or colorful but in a way that is not nice or natural. It often describes things that are shocking, scary, or too extreme, such as bright colors that hurt your eyes or stories that are full of violence or horror.
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See It in Action
Very bright, harsh, or unnatural in color or light
- •The room was painted in lurid green and pink, which hurt my eyes.
- •The lurid lighting made the scene look strange and scary.
- •She wore a lurid dress that stood out in the crowd.
Shocking or sensational, often about stories, details, or descriptions
- •The newspaper published lurid details about the crime.
- •The movie had lurid scenes that some people found disturbing.
- •He told a lurid story about the accident that made everyone uncomfortable.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'lurid' like 'bright' (A1 word), but TOO bright and unpleasant, like a neon sign that hurts your eyes
- ✓Picture a scary movie poster with very bright red and yellow colors that make you feel uneasy or afraid
- ✓It's the feeling when you see something shocking or scary, like a bad accident or a scary story that makes you uncomfortable
- ✓Sounds like 'LURE-id' → imagine a bright lure (a fishing bait) that is too bright and strange, making you feel uneasy
- ✓In stories or news, lurid details are like gossip that is too strong or shocking, making people curious but also uncomfortable
- ✓NOT like 'bright' (nice and natural light), lurid is too much, almost ugly or disturbing
- ✓NOT like 'colorful' (pleasant and pretty), lurid colors are harsh and unpleasant
- ✓NOT like 'normal' or 'calm,' lurid is loud, extreme, and grabs attention in a shocking way
Try Other Words
- •Gaudy: very bright and showy in a bad way (Use when colors or styles are tasteless and too loud)
- •Sensational: shocking and designed to attract attention (Use when talking about stories or news that are made to shock)
- •Gory: full of blood and violence (Use when describing very violent or bloody scenes)
- •Vivid: very clear and bright (Use when colors or images are clear but not unpleasant)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, base word 'lurid')
- •Etymology: From Latin 'luridus,' meaning pale yellow or ghastly (like a sick, unnatural color)
- •Historical development: Originally described pale, ghastly colors; later expanded to mean shocking or sensational in stories or images
- •Modern usage: Describes colors that are too bright and unpleasant or stories that are shocking and possibly disturbing
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be too vivid or bright and become lurid? How do you decide the difference?
•Why do you think people are sometimes interested in lurid stories even if they feel uncomfortable?
Fill in the blanks
1.The painting used lurid colors ___ made the room feel strange and uncomfortable.
2.The newspaper’s lurid report included ___ details that many readers found shocking.
3.Unlike calm or natural colors, lurid colors are often ___ and unpleasant.
4.When a story is lurid, it usually tries to ___ the reader’s attention by being shocking.
5.The movie’s lurid scenes were ___ for children because they showed scary images.
6.She wore a lurid outfit that was too bright and ___ for the formal event.
7.Journalists sometimes use lurid language to ___ the emotions of their audience.