intrigue

[in-treeg, in-treeg, in-treeg]

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.

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

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

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

Other Word Forms

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

I’m intrigued to see what investment product breakthroughs are next.

Read more on Barron's

The leads of the Netflix miniseries talked about the intrigue their characters feel for each other, their own experiences as public figures and the possibilities of a second season.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Faced with Woolf’s criticisms, we find ourselves in a fetching literary intrigue.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Podesta had close ties to some of the most influential Democratic political consultants in California, adding to the intrigue surrounding the case.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It can be a hassle, so Padval was intrigued when I told him about “convertibles,” which combine a hanging garment bag with a totable duffel.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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