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intrigue

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

verb (used with object)

intrigues, present (3rd person singular) intrigued, past participle, past intriguing present participle
  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)

intrigues, present (3rd person singular) intrigued, past participle, past intriguing present participle
  1. to plot craftily or underhandedly.

    Synonyms:
    conspire, plot
  2. to carry on a secret or illicit love affair.

noun

intrigues plural
  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

"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

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

"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

Synonym Usage

See conspiracy.

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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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing intrigue

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And if any fictional town could make twice-a-year-Halloween seem reasonable, it was Gravity Falls, which teemed with paranormal mystery and intrigue.

From Salon • Jun. 30, 2026

As the rumour goes, Klopp might be done with coaching in club football, but the national team may still intrigue him.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

Its low temperature has added to its intrigue.

From Science Daily • Jun. 28, 2026

Intrigue begets further intrigue, and the reader struggles to keep up with a swirl of subplots involving Sweety’s assistant, a missing computer, blackmail, gangsters and corrupt politicians.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

I would be basically the same, I thought, stirring my coffee, yet so subtly changed as to intrigue those who had never been North.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

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