allure 1 of 2

allure

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word allure different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of allure are attract, captivate, charm, enchant, and fascinate. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When might attract be a better fit than allure?

Although the words attract and allure have much in common, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

How are the words charm and captivate related as synonyms of allure?

Charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality
her performances captivated audiences

When can enchant be used instead of allure?

While in some cases nearly identical to allure, enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

When would fascinate be a good substitute for allure?

While the synonyms fascinate and allure are close in meaning, fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

Examples of allure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Well before Hurricane Helene, the allure of living on or near the water has drawn hundreds of thousands of people to coastal and river towns in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and the Carolinas. Laura Gwyn, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2024 While dating apps offer the allure of finding love at your fingertips, the constant interaction, lack of genuine connections and the pressure to maintain a perfect online presence are taking a toll on users’ well-being. Mark Travers, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
Verb
The Sun will then conjoin alluring Venus in Gemini at 11:32 am EDT, casting a veil of loveliness over all our interactions. Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 4 June 2024 But the opportunity for a payday, for a fresh start, is alluring enough to get Tom to set off for Italy. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for allure 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'allure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near allure

Cite this Entry

“Allure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allure. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on allure

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