- Today's Word
Lurid
LUR-id
Definition
- (adjective) Shockingly vivid, sensational, or gruesome—often in a disturbing way.
Example
The tabloid’s lurid headline exaggerated every detail of the scandal.
Fun Fact
“Lurid” originally described a pale, ghostly glow—like the eerie light of a volcano or twilight. Over time, it evolved to refer to overly dramatic or shocking content, especially in journalism or fiction. Gothic novels, horror films, and clickbait headlines all rely on a touch of lurid flair to keep audiences hooked.
(adjective) Optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation; having a confident and cheerful outlook.
Despite the project being weeks behind schedule, Maya remained sanguine, convinced that the team would pull together and deliver something remarkable.
Sanguine comes from the Latin sanguis, meaning “blood,” and entered English through Old French in the 14th century. It originally referred to one of the four humors of medieval medicine — blood being the humor associated with a cheerful, confident temperament. Someone with a “sanguine” constitution was literally thought to have blood as their dominant bodily fluid, producing an optimistic and rosy disposition.