Lurid
/ˈlʊər.ɪd/noun
Gruesome; causing shock or horror.
Did you know?The term 'lurid' originally described a sickly pale color, evoking images of death and decay, before it shifted to its current connotations of sensationalism and horror.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
lūridus
“Pale, ghastly, or yellowish.”
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
lūridus
“Describing something as dismal or ghastly.”
Early Modern English
Early Modern English
lurid
“Used to describe ghastly sights or shocking imagery.”
19th Century
English
lurid
“Became associated with sensationalist literature and shock value.”