Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

allure

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of allure

the power of irresistible attraction
  • the nostalgic allure of America's Wild West still attracts vacationers to ghost towns
Synonyms of allure

animal magnetism, appeal, attractiveness, captivation, charisma, charm, duende, enchantment, fascination, force field, glamour (also glamor), magic, magnetism, oomph, pizzazz (or pizazz), seductiveness, witchery
Words Related to allure

allurement, attraction, call, lure, seduction

agreeableness, darlingness, delightfulness, desirability, desirableness, niceness, pleasantness, pleasingness, sweetness

sex appeal
Near Antonyms of allure

disagreeableness, distastefulness, obnoxiousness, offensiveness, unpleasantness
Antonyms of allure

repulsion, repulsiveness

allure

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of allure

1 to attract or delight as if by magic
  • was so allured by his sister's college roommate that before long he was asking her for a date
Synonyms of allure

beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate, kill, magnetize, wile, witch [archaic]
Words Related to allure

disarm, draw, entice, lure, pull, seduce, tempt

delight, gratify, please

arrest, enrapture, enthrall (or enthral), entrance

appeal (to), interest, intrigue

beckon, court, invite, solicit, woo
Near Antonyms of allure

disgust, offend, repel, revolt

annoy, displease, irk

bore, tire, weary
2 to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage
  • allured by the promise of big bucks, he decided to have a go at a job on the trading floor of the stock market
Synonyms of allure

bait, beguile, betray, decoy, entice, lead on, lure, seduce, solicit, tempt
Words Related to allure

draw in, inveigle, persuade, rope (in), snow

catch, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, entrap, mesh, snare, tangle, trap

bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate, magnetize, wile
Near Antonyms of allure

alert, caution, forewarn, ward (off), warn

drive (away or off), repulse, turn away

Synonym Discussion of allure

attract, allure, charm, captivate, fascinate, enchant mean to draw another by exerting a powerful influence. attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.
    • students attracted by the school's locale
allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.
    • an alluring smile
charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response
    • charmed by their hospitality
, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.
    • her performances captivated audiences
fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.
    • a story that continues to fascinate children
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

Learn More about allure

  1. See words that rhyme with allure Dictionary: Definition of allure Spanish Central: Translation of allure Nglish: Translation of allure for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of allure for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up allure? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

inexorable

Listen to the pronounciation of inexorable

not to be persuaded, moved, or stopped

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. surveillance Comey comments on Barr's use of 'spy'

  2. cavalier Virginia wins men's championship

  3. redact, redacted Barr discusses release of report

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games