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

intricacy, intricate, intricately, intrigant, intrigante, intrigue, intrigued, intriguing, intrinsic, intrinsic factor, intrinsic parity

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 intrigued

The apparent leader of this girl gang Lady, says, “You look angry, and I am intrigued.”
‘Girlhood’: Coming of Age in France’s Projects|Molly Hannon|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Curry was intrigued and, unlike the other filmmakers VanDyke consulted, he had time to take on a major project.
‘Point and Shoot’ Captures the Birth of a Warrior on Film|Lloyd Grove|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gillespie finds true romance in reasoning, and he was intrigued.
How Amelia's Plane Was Found|Michael Daly|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
People are so intrigued by this idea of the same boy actually growing up on screen—which is a classic Rick [Linklater] idea.
The Director Isn’t Done Yet: An Interview With Steven Soderbergh|Andrew Romano|August 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Intrigued by an excerpt from a letter by Mozart included in the text?
Beguiling Books on Steroids Make Interactive Reading a Pleasure|Malcolm Jones|June 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The young idlers of rich Palermo intrigued to be introduced to her and threw enormous nosegays to her at the end of every act.
Corleone|F. Marion Crawford
The manner of Trafford's escape from the thing that intrigued him has been severely criticised.
H. G. Wells|J. D. Beresford
Kit was intrigued by the hint of romantic adventure, but Austin stopped and got up, for Olivia advanced.
Kit Musgrave's Luck|Harold Bindloss
There, where courtiers had intrigued and flattered, crows held conference.
Far to Seek|Maud Diver
O'Connell denounced the Whigs, but intrigued to keep them in power, or help them to obtain it.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan

British Dictionary definitions for intrigued

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

Word Origin and History for intrigued (1 of 2)

intrigue

1610s, "to trick, deceive, cheat" (earlier entriken, late 14c.), from French intriguer (16c.), from Italian intrigare "to plot, meddle," from Latin intricare "entangle" (see intricate). Meaning "to plot or scheme" first recorded 1714; that of "to excite curiosity" is from 1894. Related: Intrigued; intriguing (1680s, "plotting, scheming;" meaning "exciting curiosity" is from 1909).

Word Origin and History for intrigued (1 of 2)

intrigue

1640s, probably from intrigue (v.).

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 intrigued

British Dictionary definitions for intrigued

intrigue

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

noun (ɪnˈtriːɡ, ˈɪntriːɡ)

Word Origin for intrigue

Word Origin and History for intrigued (1 of 2)

intrigue

Word Origin and History for intrigued (1 of 2)

intrigue

intrigue

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

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of intrigue

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for intrigued

British Dictionary definitions for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} intrigued

intrigue

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

noun (ɪnˈtriːɡ, ˈɪntriːɡ)

Word Origin for intrigue

Word Origin and History for intrigued (1 of 2)

intrigue

Word Origin and History for intrigued (1 of 2)

intrigue

British Dictionary definitions for intrigued