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
But the lucrative allure of the fish often outweighs any potential penalty. Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025 And a big part of the draw was the allure of Miami’s elegant Gusman Center, also known as the Olympia theater. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
Verb
But most foods know no gender, and brands risk alienating certain groups through the attempt of specifically alluring another. Andrew Watman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 The collection is inspired by alluring gangster films that are reimagined through the world of LaQuan Smith. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allure
Noun
  • The appeal will also involve an oral argument during which attorneys for the NFL and NFLPA field questions from the panel.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
  • Additionally, weaker interest rates often result in a softer U.S. dollar, enhancing the appeal of alternative stores of value.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Even with the other guys' admonitions not to, under any circumstances, be themselves, Dee and Charlie's improbable success in charming these scions of the Philly upper crust had the guys — and us — both baffled and anxiously awaiting an ugly twist.
    Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025
  • On July 4, your celestial ruler, Venus, entered the sparkly and witty sign of Gemini, charming your ninth house of experience and self-discovery.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Children may be tempted to touch the flames, which can reach temperatures of up to 1,800 degrees and some run with them, sometimes leading to eye impalement.
    Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 4 July 2025
  • At month 10, schedule a conversation focused entirely on what might tempt them away.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Long fascinated by the moa, Jackson and Walsh have been collecting bones of the extinct bird for years.
    Degen Pener, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
  • Michael Karin has long been fascinated by what happens when inflammation — ideally a short-term burst of biological activity to promote healing or fight infection — turns chronic and potentially deadly.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Barely over a year ago, McKay was obsessing over film and trying to lure Peter to Liberty.
    Tony East, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s archive features postcards depicting Black children sitting near swamps to lure alligators.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • All kinds of vehicles hold a special fascination for kids, trucks in particular.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 11 July 2025
  • Trump's fascination for mixed martial arts goes back years and his support for fighting sports goes back even further to his days hosting WrestleMania in Atlantic City, N.J. in 1988.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • For six months, President Trump tried to entice Putin to the table.
    CBS News, CBS News, 13 July 2025
  • Culinary delight often begins with a visual feast that entices people to indulge in delicious flavors.
    Molly Peck, USA Today, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • But what really seduced me was the transgressive idea of imagining who else lives inside each of us.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 19 June 2025
  • Teenagers and their parents can be easily seduced, so Underwood is respected for his role in keeping those players at Thorp Arch.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Allure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allure. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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