intrigue
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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.
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to accomplish or force by crafty plotting or underhand machinations.
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Obsolete. to entangle.
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Obsolete. to trick or cheat.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
the use of underhand machinations or deceitful stratagems.
- Synonyms:
- manipulation
-
such a machination or stratagem or a series of them; a plot or crafty dealing.
political intrigues.
- Synonyms:
- manipulation
-
a secret or illicit love affair.
-
the series of complications forming the plot of a play.
verb
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(tr) to make interested or curious
I'm intrigued by this case, Watson
-
(intr) to make secret plots or employ underhand methods; conspire
-
to carry on a clandestine love affair
noun
-
the act or an instance of secret plotting, etc
-
a clandestine love affair
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the quality of arousing interest or curiosity; beguilement
Synonym Usage
See conspiracy.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
intriguesimple
-
intriguessimple
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have intriguedperfect
-
has intriguedperfect
-
am intriguingprogressive
-
are intriguingprogressive
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is intriguingprogressive
-
have been intriguingperfect progressive
-
has been intriguingperfect progressive
Past
-
intriguedsimple
-
had intriguedperfect
-
was intriguingprogressive
-
were intriguingprogressive
-
had been intriguingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing intrigue
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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.
See Examples For:
Some seek to dismiss the journalistic intrigue as to who might get which roles as soap opera – but it matters because the people selected shape the outlook, style and tone of a government.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
‘Beef,’ ‘Hacks’ and ‘The Pitt’ seem set to run the table in this year’s Emmy nominations, but there’s still intrigue to be found in the race, writes columnist Glenn Whipp.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
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
Its low temperature has added to its intrigue.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 28, 2026
The Confederate president had set aside more than $1 million in gold to pay for acts of espionage and intrigue against the Union and kept a portion of the money in Canada.
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
"Pep intrigues me," said Robinson, who is now head coach of Salford City.
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
More than 220 years later, the Lewis and Clark expedition still intrigues.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
If the idea of moving into a university retirement community intrigues you, take these steps before signing a contract:
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 10, 2026
From the start, “The Gilded Age” has taken care to authentically depict Peggy’s narrative trajectory without denying the same juicy intrigues coloring other characters’ lives.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2025
They discussed intrigues I did not know, a catastrophe I could not comprehend.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
It’s bold, a little funky, and exactly the kind of recipe that makes people either immediately intrigued or deeply skeptical.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
The 67-year-old said he made a point of visiting Wattana Panich while on vacation, intrigued by the longevity of the mother stock, which he likened to caring for a sourdough starter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Micron Technology’s latest earnings are further fueling SK Hynix’s stock — and analysts are intrigued about what’s to come after the South Korean memory giant completes its U.S. listing next month.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
Jones was intrigued by Pints and Ponytails as he’s battled the hair-care needs of his 2 ½-year-old daughter, Noa, and her textured, curly locks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Herr Thiessen is intrigued, and after an early dinner, he puts on his hat and gloves and begins walking in the general direction his winemaker friend had indicated.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
However, there was an intriguing postscript when the ball itself - or at least one purporting to be so, which was authenticated by Sobers - was sold at auction by Christie's for £26,400.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
A brisk walk through this year’s picks with intriguing bloodlines:
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
These results make HTR2B an intriguing possible drug target, but the compound is not an approved treatment for heart valve disease.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026
This lends an intriguing additional layer to Iago’s festering, consuming hatred: Even his own wife is a potential rival, in addition to, he believes, having slept with Othello.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
It's intriguing, but I don't know if I want to experience it.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
