allure 1 of 2

Definition of allurenext

allure

2 of 2

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
Mia — who’s blinded by the allure of a newborn that’s long eluded her and her husband — doesn’t heed Riley’s warning about the nature of the child, and in the course of their melee, Riley accidentally crashes through the second-story window of their family home. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2025 Adding to the allure of the Big Piece is the fact that it has been hidden for decades within a private collection. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
Born and raised in rural America, the Native American and Czech actress has been allured by the classic Western lifestyle since childhood. Jason Phillips, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025 Other tech pioneers have AI predictions that are more grounded on Earth—but still alluring to workers. Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allure
Noun
  • Without question, Bardot expanded the appeal of international films from cinephiles and college students.
    Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The appeal of Charli’s account was that her reviews were funny, yes, and a glimpse into her culture diet in relation to her own work.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In real life, Emily was thoroughly charmed.
    Kylie Gilbert, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Only a few days ago, this 49ers season looked inexplicably charmed.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Overbuy with the price still affordable At just under $80 an ounce currently, but with the potential for significant growth high right now, investors may be tempted to overbuy silver while the price is still affordable.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • This is where brands can tempt consumers with limited runs.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • But with a sizable audience doing research to kill time between installments, the miniseries’ cast boasts an awkward attractiveness that sticks out as oddly inauthentic.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Our research shows that extreme attractiveness might grab attention but can undermine connection, the true currency of the influencer economy.
    Abby Frank, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.
    Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Elizabeth is fascinated by insects and science.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Next June, electric bills across that region will absorb billions more dollars in higher wholesale electricity costs designed to lure new power plants to power data centers.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Her mechanism for luring victims involves a stick, someone’s hair, her blood, and another person stupid enough to let her through their front door.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The public reaction to developments in the BCI field is all of a piece with this—equal parts healthy fascination and troubling misinformation.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
  • After finding success with Shift4 Payments—now valued at roughly $6 billion— Isaacman turned his fascination with flight into action.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Similar to fellow Arsenal summer signing Eberechi Eze — another keen chess player — the assumption would be that the skills taken from the board game have helped Zubimendi be a step ahead in enticing and then bypassing opposition players.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The algorithm, the Reddit user claimed, would save the higher-paying orders for casual drivers to entice them to use the app.
    Lauren Wilson, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Allure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allure. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.

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