alluring

[uh-loo r-ing]

See more synonyms for alluring on Thesaurus.com

adjective

very attractive or tempting; enticing; seductive.
fascinating; charming.

Origin of alluring

First recorded in 1525–35; allure¹ + -ing²

Related formsal·lur·ing·ly, adverbal·lur·ing·ness, nounun·al·lur·ing, adjectiveun·al·lur·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for unalluring

repugnant, repulsive, disgusting, unappealing, beastly, deformed, frightful, gross, grotesque, hideous, homely, monstrous, plain, repelling, revolting, unsightly, horrid, unalluring, animal, ordinary

Examples from the Web for unalluring

Historical Examples of unalluring

And from so startling and unalluring a beginning, a marriage followed.
Customs and Fashions in Old New England
Alice Morse Earle
It is cold;—and would be unalluring, were it not that as a profession it is profitable.
North America, Volume II (of 2)
Anthony Trollope
A small hatchet with which to chop off a chunk of porridge formed the accompaniment of this unalluring Arctic provender.
Customs and Fashions in Old New England
Alice Morse Earle
From this unalluring suggestion I begged off, justly pleading a hard day of work ahead.
The Book of Susan
Lee Wilson Dodd
Never had her bony, angular face, her slack figure and sloping shoulders seemed so unalluring.
Rich Man, Poor Man
Maximilian Foster

British Dictionary definitions for unalluring

alluring

adjective

enticing; fascinating; attractive

Derived Formsalluringly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unalluring

alluring

1530s, "action of attracting," verbal noun from allure (v.).

alluring

adj.

"appealing to desires," 1570s, present participle adjective from allure (v.). Related: Alluringly.