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.

---

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

---

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

Related Words

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”; intricate

Example Sentences

"I think people are really intrigued by his expeditions and how he managed to keep going in the face of adversity."

From BBC

“The Pitt” is already one of the best shows in TV, “Industry” is soapy fun and “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” looks intriguing.

From MarketWatch

“Difference Between,” a 23-minute world premiere by Matthew Neenan, holds the stage intriguingly until losing momentum and feeling strung out as it presents an artful, communal gathering that dwindles to a somewhat puzzling conclusion.

From The Wall Street Journal

Which makes her next release, the soundtrack to Emerald Fennell’s film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights”—the film and album come out on Feb. 13—such an intriguing proposition.

From The Wall Street Journal

Stories such as Lost and Found, How to Catch a Star, and Here We Are have delighted, intrigued and fascinated families around the world.

From BBC

Related Words

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