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
There's an undeniable allure to the pale yellow shade, a saccharine hue that teeters the line on both mellow and bright. Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 28 May 2026 The anxiety the show provoked only added to its allure. Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 24 May 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 The region’s invigorating multiculturalism also allures visitors drawn to calypso music, island cuisine, and its history as a port of entry to the Caribbean. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allure
Noun
  • Tiananmen Mothers issued an annual appeal for justice ahead of this year's anniversary.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 June 2026
  • The attorney general's office is committed to defending these convictions through the appeals process.
    Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • Charlie also opened up about his Greek roots during Season 7 of Love Island, even speaking a little Greek to fellow Islander Bell-A as a way to charm her.
    Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 3 June 2026
  • The welcome is relaxed and warm while the flamboyant decor fights to charm you.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • You also might be tempted to spend on luxury, art and beautiful things.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 May 2026
  • Rising from the Mediterranean, this little isle, full of dramatic peaks and grottoes, has been tempting travelers for 2,000 years.
    Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • Decades later, research continues to find that attractiveness influences hiring decisions, salaries, legal outcomes, and perceptions of competence.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
  • Savvy European governments and businesses should be able to find ways to support the domestic economic interests of Gulf countries, while also demonstrating the attractiveness of investment opportunities on their own continent.
    Dr. Robert Mogielnicki, semafor.com, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • The combined disgust, discomfort, ignorance, and fascination with our Indigeneity that unsettled my aunties and fascinated my cousins made more sense to me.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
  • While the remote learning time during the COVID pandemic was challenging for many students, Ashlyn Duran used it to learn more about a subject that fascinated her.
    Amy Stark Shireman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Three All Saints Episcopal School students lured a fourth student to participate in a TikTok challenge this month that became a catastrophic assault, leaving the boy unconscious for several minutes, temporarily paralyzed and with fractured vertebrae, according to a lawsuit filed this week.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
  • Short selling can be an intellectually demanding approach to the market, and many inexperienced traders fall into a trap, lured by overvaluation and hype.
    David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • The team anticipating it would occupy our summer baseball fascination is captivating for all the wrong reasons.
    Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
  • The hypnotic motifs and stylized figures in these collections lit a fuse for Nilsson and her peers, seeding a fascination with non-Western art that has continued throughout her career.
    Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • More Arsenal fans have searched for the shirt since the parade, with 55 bought from Etsy in the 24 hours after the parade, but the reference is what enticed buyers pre-title win.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 2 June 2026
  • The company will offer limited-time deals and new discounts each day to entice shoppers to participate in more than one day of the event, Ghani added.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Allure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allure. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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