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

Pulisic’s situation added to the layers of intrigue leading to the roster selection, the most anticipated in many years because of a deepening player pool and the momentum from two summer championships.

From Washington Post

In these next five weeks, the twilight of a lost season for both clubs, it will be rare to stir much intrigue outside their own dugouts.

From Washington Post

It is a film with tension and intrigue of the deepest of love stories.

From Washington Blade

The plot hinges on a sliver of political intrigue—involving an activist played by Vicky Krieps, of Phantom Thread fame—that doesn’t really justify all these weird goings-on.

From Time

His lawyer says he was paid based on other more substantial services and even risks Hughes took but declined to elaborate, further stoking the intrigue.

From Voice of San Diego

He held intrigue for journalists converging for the transition of papal power.

From The Daily Beast

On another, more macro level, did you find Europe to be such a cesspool of intrigue?

From The Daily Beast

India really does intrigue against Pakistan in the same way Pakistan plots against India.

From The Daily Beast

The quick-cut trailer suggests a soft-core romp with dramatic intrigue and wry one-liners.

From The Daily Beast

The extra layer of intrigue alluded to in that statement is that the WWE itself is an international brand.

From The Daily Beast

He professed both to abominate and despise all mystery, refinement, and intrigue, either in a prince or a minister.

From Project Gutenberg

The king fell in love with her, and his attempted intrigue led to complications that almost caused a war between France and Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

Black Hood knew what it was to be a policeman with hands bound by red tape or political intrigue.

From Project Gutenberg

However, if you can forget that, the coils of an admirably woven intrigue will grip your attention and sympathy throughout.

From Project Gutenberg

It preyed upon her mind, distorting it, unbalancing it; each glance, each movement of his she exaggerated into an intrigue.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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