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
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
Noun
  • The rug’s slightly distressed look gives it a bit of vintage appeal, and its stain-resistant finish will protect against everyday spills and debris.
    Toni Sutton, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
  • For Shirazi, part of the appeal of government work was the security.
    E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Finally, bloodsuckers from The Sims 4 Vampires can simply charm the burglar into leaving — after taking a quick sip from her, of course.
    Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Set on a slope above the village where Roger Moore lived, skied, charmed, and died, it is set on 45,000 acres overlooking a large swimming pool and a small, frozen lake.
    Rachel Johnson, airmail.news, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • You may be tempted to fall back and go to sleep right then and there.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The way their needs stack up, they may be tempted to spend free-agency dollars, premium draft capital or both on positions that typically do not command such resources.
    Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2025
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
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
Noun
  • Read: Behind the American right’s fascination with Viktor Orbán Putin and Russia always held a special place in Trump world, however.
    Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Their rites could not be revealed to those outside the cult and were therefore a source of great fascination to the wider populace.
    Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • But the black-and-white film about two Black couples, played by the same actors, living in Chicago during two different time periods, didn’t entice distributors.
    Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Instead, General Catalyst is in rapid expansion mode — trying to build the sort of diversified, fee-generating asset base that would entice Wall Street analysts to use firms like Blackstone as comps.
    Dan Primack, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
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

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Cite this Entry

“Allure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allure. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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