ˈlu̇rə̇d adjective
Etymology: Latin luridus pale yellow, sallow; probably akin to Latin lutum dyer's rocket, yellow
1.
a. : wan and ghastly pale in appearance : livid
frightened to death by the lurid waxworks — Sara H. Hay
the leaves … shone lurid , livid — they looked as if dipped in sea water — Virginia Woolf
lights around the two effigies threw them up into lurid distinctness — Thomas Hardy
b. archaic : dingy brown or yellowish brown — used of a plant
c. : of any of several light or medium grayish colors ranging in hue from yellow to orange
2. : shining with the red glow of fire seen through smoke or cloud : suffused with red
lurid flames of burning chateaux — C.A. & Mary Beard
the sun, shining through the smoke … seemed blood-red, and threw an unfamiliar lurid light upon everything — H.G.Wells
3.
a. : causing horror or revulsion : hideous , gruesome
lurid examples of debauchery and vice — Liam O'Flaherty
the tabloids gave all the lurid details of floating wreckage and dismembered bodies
b. : highly colored : extravagant , gaudy , sensational
lurid emotionalism and tear-jerking nostalgia — Leslie Rees
his readings of standard symphonic works seemed lurid and supercharged — Douglas Watt
lurid as any melodrama — S.H.Holbrook
paperbacks in the usual lurid covers — T.R.Fyvel