intrigue

[ verb in-treeg; noun in-treeg, in-treeg ]

verb (used with object)

, in·trigued, in·tri·guing.

1. to arouse the curiosity or interest of by unusual, new, or otherwise fascinating or compelling qualities; appeal strongly to; captivate:

   The plan intrigues me, but I wonder if it will work.

   Synonyms: enthrall, enchant, fascinate, attract, interest

2. to achieve or earn by appealing to another's curiosity, fancy, or interest:

   to intrigue one's way into another's notice.

3. to draw or capture:

   Her interest was intrigued by the strange symbol.

4. to accomplish or force by crafty plotting or underhand machinations.
5. Obsolete. to entangle.
6. Obsolete. to trick or cheat.

verb (used without object)

, in·trigued, in·tri·guing.

1. to plot craftily or underhandedly.

   Synonyms: conspire, plot

2. to carry on a secret or illicit love affair.

noun

1. the use of underhand machinations or deceitful stratagems.

   Synonyms: manipulation

2. such a machination or stratagem or a series of them; a plot or crafty dealing:

   political intrigues.

   Synonyms: manipulation

3. a secret or illicit love affair.
4. the series of complications forming the plot of a play.

intrigue

verb

1. tr to make interested or curious

   I'm intrigued by this case, Watson

2. intr to make secret plots or employ underhand methods; conspire
3. introften foll bywith to carry on a clandestine love affair

noun

1. the act or an instance of secret plotting, etc
2. a clandestine love affair
3. the quality of arousing interest or curiosity; beguilement

Derived Forms

• inˈtriguer, noun

Other Words From

• in·tri·guer noun
• in·tri·guing·ly adverb
• out·in·trigue verb (used with object) outintrigued outintriguing
• un·in·tri·guing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intrigue¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from French intriguer, from Italian intrigare, from Latin intrīcāre “to entangle”; intricate

Word History and Origins

Origin of intrigue¹

C17: from French intriguer, from Italian intrigare, from Latin intrīcāre; see intricate

Synonym Study

See conspiracy.

Example Sentences

And she's a fan of the "clever" mystery masks because it "creates intrigue".

From BBC

Lloyd modernizes the stagecraft, injecting avant-garde intrigue into what is ultimately a commercial enterprise.

From Los Angeles Times

There are players from Senegal, China, the Republic of Congo, Croatia, South Sudan and Nigeria on rosters, adding to the intrigue of overflowing talent in the Southland.

From Los Angeles Times

Politics in the country is really about palace intrigue and this is where the scandal involving Mr Engonga fits in.

From BBC

After years of mystery and intrigue surrounding the killing, investigators tied Keen-Warren to the case and arrested her in 2017, though she maintains her innocence.

From BBC

Related Words

• chicanery
• complication
• conspiracy
• fraud
• machination
• plot