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

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 allure
Noun
However, experts can agree on one thing about North Carolina’s purple honey: The mystery surrounding it only seems to add to its allure. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 2 May 2025 According to the Federal Trade Commission, at least 99% of people who join MLMs don’t make any money, though their allure remains. Emma Specter, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
While the expansive sight of Lee’s Wharf and Newport Harbor may allure you, the food and lively atmosphere at Flora will draw you back. airmail.news, 9 Sep. 2024 Art and Patrick are longtime best friends and tennis rivals both chasing after the same woman, allured by her grace on the tennis court. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for allure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allure
Noun
  • The initiative aims to boost Japan Inc.’s appeal to both foreign and domestic investors.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 May 2025
  • Perseverance's aurora observations, which were described in a study published Wednesday (May 14) in the journal Science Advances, have more than just gee-whiz appeal.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Curry was charmed by Edwards’ inner Antness, that combination of swagger and soul that has All-NBA players like Randle, Towns and Gobert enthusiastically giving in to his gravitational pull.
    Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • Here’s a two-in-one shelf and coat rack that oozes charm thanks to the playful scalloped detail outlining each hook.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • Users might be tempted to delay applying the update until there’s clarity from Microsoft, but often these reports are only seen afterward.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • One might be tempted to say that this dismissal is merely another episode in the grotesque sitcom that is Trumpian politics.
    Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025
Verb
  • The concept fascinated me—creating designs and selling custom products without needing to manage inventory.
    Sarim Nadeem, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
  • Hobbyist diver Dom Robinson has spent the past three decades exploring shipwrecks, which have fascinated him since childhood.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Online financial scams have only become more organized in the years since, with entire compounds cropping up overseas devoted to luring people in and convincing them to pay up, often sacrificing their life savings in the process, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
    Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2025
  • This is done to help lure big production companies and broadcasters or streamers to Cinecittà with long-term service deals.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • But the series’s fascination with the prosperity doctrine and its detrimental consequences often felt secondary to a broader affection for its characters.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 May 2025
  • Her hands-on background and fascinations involve outdoor cooking, foraging, and stewarding gardens.
    Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 4 May 2025
Verb
  • Will the new level of EV functionality even entice GM to end the ban of CarPlay in electrics?
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • Google and eBay are ramping up technology to help brands and sellers entice consumers.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • The thriller tells the story of a dental hygienist who is seduced by a mysterious mermaid into the dark and wet underworld of Florida’s exotic animal trade.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 9 May 2025
  • Based on a script by Landes Echavarría and Duke Merriman, the story tells of a dental hygienist seduced by a mysterious mermaid into the dark and wet underworld of Florida’s exotic animal trade.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Allure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allure. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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