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Definition of allurenext

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
One of the getaway’s most appealing allures is its glimpse into a forgotten era. Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026 Yet Marta also has the low-key allure of someone not entirely easy to impress. Gaby Wood, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
The getaway, which bookends Tucson with its Saguaro East and Saguaro West parks, allures with inky nightscapes and numerous open-late trails. Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 8 Dec. 2025 Despite having never considered Nashville as a potential home, she was allured by the idea that her social connections would thrive there and decided to settle. Erik Buckingham, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allure
Noun
  • His screen appeal combines a mix of swagger and self-deprecating, and at times evokes (a taller) Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Can Kushner’s billions of dollars and unlimited access deliver the kind of magnetic appeal that began with the Showtime Lakers in 1979?
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Things to do in Belmont Prince was charmed by the variety of festivals hosted in town while visiting.
    Eva Flowe August 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Deep down, there’s a part of Priscilla that’s still charmed by John.
    Max Gao, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The next time you are tempted to just jump out of your car and start pumping, keep these considerations in mind.
    Molly Burford, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • However, when one of the three women feels guilty about snubbing their lifelong pal, Mel shows up and suddenly the weekend turns to complete chaos, tempting the trio to break free from the madness that has hobbled their friend group for years.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The list of 500 schools was compiled by the magazine and data research firm Statista, Schools were given a score based on their student outcomes, learning environment and their attractiveness to students.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The stakes are high, with victory on the track bringing in prize money and enhancing the team’s attractiveness to sponsors like Petronas and Microsoft.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The question fascinated David Hilbert, a renowned mathematician who had devoted much of his life to rebuilding physics on a sturdy foundation of crisp axioms.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
  • QAnon haunts Washington I’m particularly fascinated by the ghost of QAnon – how the theory continues to haunt politics today.
    Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The price of these franchises demands operating with that paradigm and thus lures those who see growth like hammers see nails.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Neighbors say they're left shaken after an elderly couple was lured out of their home by thieves, who ransacked their house and stole from them.
    Jermont Terry, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • And of his fascination in the idea that people might go on living after death, in oblivion.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • That personal fascination would eventually shape Big World Pictures’ identity.
    José Salazar, IndieWire, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The bet is that the interesting content will entice fans around the world and grow the series’ audience as the debut of its second season draws near.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • When Idrissa Gueye’s pass to Vitalii Mykolenko entices Curtis Jones to press the left-back, Dewsbury-Hall and McNeil spot the space behind Ibrahima Konate and attack it.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Allure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allure. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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