1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

aura

noun

ˈȯr-ə How to pronounce aura (audio)
Definition of auranext
1
as in atmosphere
a special quality or impression associated with something the monastery perched high on a mountaintop had an aura of unreality and mystery about it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in energy
a spiritual force that is held to emanate from or give animation to living beings alternative medical treatments that rely on the practitioner's ability to detect a patient's aura

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aura Folklore Taylor Swift Folklore’s angelic aura is best captured with gauzy peasant dresses, soft boho details, and a touch of woodland whimsy. — Zoe Weiner, StyleCaster, 18 Sep. 2026 Doing so with Olivia Miles, who has captivated so many with her style of play but also her aura off the court, just feels special. — Shakeia Taylor, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 The Paradise actress’ flashy pants rivaled the necklace’s aura, stepping out in a look from Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Balenciaga F/W 26 haute couture collection. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 Orange Aura Combine trends by taking an orange-to-nude aura design and top it off with 3D gold chrome accents. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aura
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aura
  1. atmosphere
  2. energy
  3. smell
  4. spirit
  5. aroma
  6. air
  7. ambience
  8. sense
Noun
  • Scalding criticism evaporates like steam back into an atmosphere that police command.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The friendly staff, who wear black uniforms with lettering that identifies their duties add to the hotel’s merry atmosphere.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of atmosphere
Noun
  • One highlight for me was my session with an energy healer named Djik Dewa, who balances out the body’s chakras with gentle massage, chanting, and deep eye contact—a disconcerting but powerful experience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Alito said he was not required to recuse himself and that the energy shares in question were inherited by his wife.
    — Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of energy
Noun
  • But the smell of a pot brewing can still bring back memories of the people who once poured it.
    — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Multisensory journeys have been developed to immerse clients in the rituals, music and smells inspired by the lifestyles of these destinations.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of smell
Noun
  • Upstairs, on the top floor, the bar serves vintage hard-to-get champagne and spirits by the glass.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Desperate to regain her dominance while dazzling pageant recruiter Eloise Amponsah (Tony Award winner Patina Miller), who was Miss Ghana 1966, Paulina launches a campaign to crush Ericka’s spirit and dash her chances in the spotlight.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of spirit
Noun
  • Our wine ages for a full year in French oak, where the wood’s precise porosity allows just the right exchange with oxygen — softening the wine, concentrating its aromas and flavours, building complexity no machine can replicate.
    — Peter Hahn, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The aroma is complemented by hints of bergamot, sage, neroli, and musk, too.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of aroma
Noun
  • The sparrows fluttered into the air, wings beating against each other in panic.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Do air travelers notice the difference between airports, the frustration of exiting LAX and potentially avoid flying out of it whenever possible?
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of air
Noun
  • Sure, the dine-in ambiance has been sacrificed; but the menu here is as delightful and exquisite as ever.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Their work here evokes the grubby, pixellated textures and the seedy-dreamy ambience of a bygone trash-TV era.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of ambience
Noun
  • Iran makes another push before heading home In a sign of Tehran’s apparent sense of urgency, Pezeshkian hosted the prime minister of Qatar, the mediator in the indirect talks, early Friday before much of New York rolled out of bed.
    — Cara Anna, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • In a sign of Tehran’s apparent sense of urgency, Pezeshkian hosted the prime minister of Qatar, the mediator in the indirect talks, early Friday before much of New York rolled out of bed.
    — Cara Anna, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of sense

Browse Nearby Words

au pairs
aura
aural
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aura.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aura. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on aura

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aura

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of slew

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All