intrigue

American  

[in-treeg, in-treeg, in-treeg] / ɪnˈtrig, ɪnˈtrig, ˈɪn trig /

verb (used with object)

intrigued, intriguing

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.

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verb (used without object)

intrigued, intriguing

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 British  

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. to carry on a clandestine love affair

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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

Synonym Usage

See conspiracy.

Other Word Forms

• intriguer
  noun
• intriguingly
  adverb
• outintrigue
  verb (used with object)
• unintriguing
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of intrigue

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

Explanation

An intrigue is a secret plot. If you ever become the monarch of a small island kingdom, keep watch for signs of any intrigue against you. Intrigue comes from the Latin verb intricare, "to entangle," and is related to intricate. It can be a noun, meaning "underhanded plot," or a verb for the act of plotting. Agents of two opposing powers intrigue against each other. In the late 19th century it also came to mean the feeling of curiosity or interest. If someone's ideas intrigue you, you want to know more about them.

Example Sentences

Right now, there is: Intrigue, plotting, phone calls, quiet chats, guesswork and claims of underhand tactics.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2024

The first episode of Radio 4’s Intrigue: Worse Than Murder, is available now on BBC Sounds.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2024

Intrigue ensues, and the shock of two gay cowboys gives way to what we might expect from a classic western: shootouts, horseback chases, fugitive justice.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2023

Intrigue has seemingly been baked into the matchup whether it’s Seattleites not liking Californians or the Sounders crushing LAFC’s dream 2019 season with an upset in the Western Conference championship.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 17, 2023

While Tallmadge was setting up the Culper Ring, Washington was already getting bits from Nathaniel Sackett, a “Person of Intrigue and Secrecy,” who was running his own spy network centered on New York City.

From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen

Related Words

• attract
• captivate
• charm
• delight
• enchant
• entertain
• excite
• fascinate
• pique
• please
• rivet
• tickle
• titillate