intrigue

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

/ verb ɪnˈtrig; noun ɪnˈtrig, ˈɪn trig /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intrigue ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), in·trigued, in·tri·guing.

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.

to achieve or earn by appealing to another's curiosity, fancy, or interest: to intrigue one's way into another's notice.

to draw or capture: Her interest was intrigued by the strange symbol.

to accomplish or force by crafty plotting or underhand machinations.

Obsolete. to entangle.

Obsolete. to trick or cheat.

verb (used without object), in·trigued, in·tri·guing.

to plot craftily or underhandedly.

to carry on a secret or illicit love affair.

noun

the use of underhand machinations or deceitful stratagems.

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

a secret or illicit love affair.

the series of complications forming the plot of a play.

Nearby words

Origin of intrigue

1640–50; < French intriguer < Italian intrigare < Latin intrīcāre to entangle; see intricate

SYNONYMS FOR intrigue

1 interest, attract, fascinate.

7 manipulate.

9, 10 manipulation.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intrigue ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

in·tri·guer, nounin·tri·guing·ly, adverbout·in·trigue, verb (used with object), out·in·trigued, out·in·tri·guing.un·in·trigued, adjective

un·in·tri·guing, adjective

Synonym study

10. See conspiracy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for intrigue

On another, more macro level, did you find Europe to be such a cesspool of intrigue?
How The Cold War Endgame Played Out In The Rubble Of The Berlin Wall|William O’Connor|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
India really does intrigue against Pakistan in the same way Pakistan plots against India.
Why So Many Pakistanis Hate Their Nobel Peace Prize Winner|Chris Allbritton|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The extra layer of intrigue alluded to in that statement is that the WWE itself is an international brand.
Putin Vs. Obama—In Spandex: Wrestling’s New Cold War|Tim Teeman|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt This story has it all: love, betrayal, secrecy, and intrigue.
Real-Life Couples on Screen: Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, Brangelina, and More|Amy Zimmerman|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

For locals in Buenos Aires (called Porteños), the intrigue of the infamous green spirit dates back over a hundred years.
The Absinthe-Minded Porteños of Buenos Aires|Jeff Campagna|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Eventually he was thrust from his high position by an intrigue set on foot by German courtiers and backed by foreign influence.
Memoirs of Leonora Christina|Leonora Christina Ulfeldt
Gorgias belike had an intrigue with the maid, and his wife was jealous.
Plutarch's Morals|Plutarch
They divined the truth; the intrigue was noised abroad, and the rumour at last got round to Fulbert.
The Works of Alexander Pope, Volume 2 (of 10)|Alexander Pope
There comes in here, according to the received accounts, a little passage of Indian intrigue and gallantry.
Christopher Columbus and How He Received and Imparted the Spirit of Discovery|Justin Winsor
The masters of Europe, who have learned their trade in long years of intrigue, diplomacy and war, feel no such repugnance.
The American Empire|Scott Nearing

British Dictionary definitions for intrigue

intrigue

verb (ɪnˈtriːɡ) -trigues, -triguing or -trigued

(tr) to make interested or curiousI'm intrigued by this case, Watson

(intr) to make secret plots or employ underhand methods; conspire

(intr often foll by with) to carry on a clandestine love affair

noun (ɪnˈtriːɡ, ˈɪntriːɡ)

the act or an instance of secret plotting, etc

a clandestine love affair

the quality of arousing interest or curiosity; beguilement

Derived Formsintriguer, noun

Word Origin for intrigue

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

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

intrigue

verb (used with object), in·trigued, in·tri·guing.

verb (used without object), in·trigued, in·tri·guing.

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of intrigue

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for intrigue

British Dictionary definitions for intrigue

intrigue

verb (ɪnˈtriːɡ) -trigues, -triguing or -trigued

noun (ɪnˈtriːɡ, ˈɪntriːɡ)

Word Origin for intrigue