allure 1 of 2

noun

Definition of allurenext
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as in appeal
the power of irresistible attraction the nostalgic allure of America's Wild West still attracts vacationers to ghost towns

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

allure

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈlu̇r How to pronounce allure (audio)
1
as in to charm
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to tempt
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 & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Newsweek reached out to two relationship experts to find out if choosing comfort over allure is affecting our intimacy levels. — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025 The resort’s original location in Spain has many celebrity fans and was named among the best international spa resorts in our 2022 World’s Best Awards, and the property in Costa Mujeres has a similar allure. — Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
Brand previous tried to allure adult snackers The brand has recently aimed to allure adults through recent limited edition flavors. — Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024 In a directorial career defined by alluring strangeness, Guy Maddin’s new comedy is radical for being almost … normal. — Marcela Valdes Nicholas Confessore Mark Binelli Lulu Garcia-Navarro Kwame Anthony Appiah Kwame Anthony Appiah Gabrielle Schwarz Yotam Ottolenghi Ross Barkan John Hodgman, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for allure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allure
  1. appeal
  2. charm
  3. tempt
  4. fascinate
  5. lure
  6. fascination
  7. entice
  8. seduce
Noun
  • But unlike the Springsteen record of yore, there is a level of acoustic guitar virtuosity here that is a big part of the appeal.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Mercedes Formula One driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has climbed up one position from fifth to secure fourth place at the Australian Grand Prix after the five-second penalty was reversed following an appeal by his team.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of appeal
Verb
  • Perhaps this is why Trump seems instead to have landed on a strategy of trying to charm Greenlanders into voting for independence from Denmark.
    — Louise Bokkenheuser, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
  • While some people were charmed by the video, others were more critical.
    — Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of charm
Verb
  • This often tempts developers to prototype in Python before implementing production-grade Rust solutions. 5.
    — Amandeep Midha, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Just be sure they're not too tempted to eat only gummy worms for breakfast!
    — Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of tempt
Verb
  • Their affair gives poignant momentum to The Deepest Breath, which is fascinated with athletic obsession.
    — Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The grand monuments, enigmatic gods, and legendary rulers of Ancient Egypt have fascinated the world for centuries.
    — David Nikel, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of fascinate
Verb
  • Before the start of Season 5, there was a flurry of transfers as the two newest teams — Brazil and Italy — lured some top talent away from the highest-performing teams of recent years.
    — Andrew Rice, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • For the new season, Hacks has lured Hacks Julianne Nicholson, Michaela Watkins, Bresha Webb, Robby Hoffman, and Eric Balfour for guest starring roles.
    — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of lure
Noun
  • Merrick was an object of fascination during his life, and his story resonated beyond his lifetime.
    — Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2025
  • As the Oscar-winning run of The Brutalist also recently showed, the length of movies remains a perennial subject of fascination among media and moviegoers alike.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of fascination
Verb
  • The goal for Boca Raton officials is to entice not just various wealthy industries but to bring in new residents and tourists, too.
    — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2025
  • How fast that figure ascends is somewhat dependent on mortgage rates — lower rates would entice more existing owners to sell.
    — Nerdwallet, Orange County Register, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of entice
Verb
  • Raúl Castillo plays against type and makes for a menacing, unstoppable presence in a genre homage that’s yell-at-the-scream enjoyable and seduces with its terrific cinematography from Daniel Katz.
    — Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Carpenter wrapped her performance with a camera trick implying her attempt to seduce a member of the King’s Guard.
    — Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of seduce

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Cite this Entry

“Allure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allure. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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