intrigue

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

/ verb ɪnˈtrig; noun ɪnˈtrig, ˈɪn trig /

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See synonyms for: intrigue / intrigued / intrigues / intriguing 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR intrigue

1 interest, attract, fascinate; enchant. enthrall.

7 plot, conspire,

9, 10 manipulation.

See synonyms for intrigue on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of intrigue

First recorded in 1640–50; from French intriguer, from Italian intrigare, from Latin intrīcāre “to entangle”; see intricate

synonym study for intrigue

10. See conspiracy.

OTHER WORDS FROM intrigue

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

Words nearby intrigue

intrepidity, Int. Rev., intricacy, intricate, intrigant, intrigue, intrigued, intriguing, intrinsic, intrinsically, intrinsic factor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use intrigue in a sentence

Pulisic’s situation added to the layers of intrigue leading to the roster selection, the most anticipated in many years because of a deepening player pool and the momentum from two summer championships.
Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna headline intriguing USMNT roster for start of World Cup qualifiers|Steven Goff|August 26, 2021|Washington Post
In these next five weeks, the twilight of a lost season for both clubs, it will be rare to stir much intrigue outside their own dugouts.
Josiah Gray, Edward Cabrera impress, but Marlins edge Nats after potential future aces depart|Jesse Dougherty|August 26, 2021|Washington Post
It is a film with tension and intrigue of the deepest of love stories.
‘Firebird’ is an instantly classic LGBTQ love story|Rob Watson|August 24, 2021|Washington Blade
The plot hinges on a sliver of political intrigue—involving an activist played by Vicky Krieps, of Phantom Thread fame—that doesn’t really justify all these weird goings-on.
John David Washington Can't Outrun the Tedium of Netflix Thriller Beckett|Stephanie Zacharek|August 13, 2021|Time

His lawyer says he was paid based on other more substantial services and even risks Hughes took but declined to elaborate, further stoking the intrigue.
Why Hughes Made So Much on City Lease Deals Is Still Largely a Mystery|Lisa Halverstadt|July 15, 2021|Voice of San Diego
He held intrigue for journalists converging for the transition of papal power.
How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF|Jason Berry|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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 quick-cut trailer suggests a soft-core romp with dramatic intrigue and wry one-liners.
French Political Sex Movie About DSK Sets Cannes Aquiver|Tracy McNicoll|May 17, 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
He professed both to abominate and despise all mystery, refinement, and intrigue, either in a prince or a minister.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
The king fell in love with her, and his attempted intrigue led to complications that almost caused a war between France and Spain.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Black Hood knew what it was to be a policeman with hands bound by red tape or political intrigue.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
However, if you can forget that, the coils of an admirably woven intrigue will grip your attention and sympathy throughout.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 158, April 28, 1920|Various
It preyed upon her mind, distorting it, unbalancing it; each glance, each movement of his she exaggerated into an intrigue.
Uncanny Tales|Various

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 forms of intrigue

intriguer, 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

OTHER WORDS FOR intrigue

Origin of intrigue

synonym study for intrigue

OTHER WORDS FROM intrigue

Words nearby intrigue

Words related to intrigue

How to use intrigue in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intrigue

Derived forms of intrigue

Word Origin for intrigue