intrigue

noun in·trigue \ ˈin-ˌtrēg , in-ˈtrēg \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: intrigue in a Sentence

Definition of intrigue

1 a : a secret scheme : machination

b : the practice of engaging in secret schemes

2 : a clandestine love affair

See intrigue defined for English-language learners

Examples of intrigue in a Sentence

Rolston's work channels the vampish intrigue of vintage Hollywood with a sense of irony and wit that makes the work truly modern. —Stephanie Sung, Picture, September/October 2008
In this, as in any other enterprise where there is the promise of money, intrigues and lies and hoodwinking and bullying abound. —Alice Munro, "Hard-Luck Stories," in In the Stacks, 2002
The story began to take on a warm, attractive glow as a Highland romantic epic of heroism and villainy, of intrigue and bravery, complete with comely maidens such as Flora MacDonald and handsome heroes such as Bonnie Prince Charlie himself. —Arthur Herman, How the Scots Invented the Modern World, 2001
a novel of intrigue and romance
an administration characterized by intrigue and corruption

Recent Examples of intrigue from the Web

Even a show like Pretty Little Liars, which was fueled by an endless stream of murder and bloody intrigue, boiled down to love triangles, a hilariously kitschy killer board game, and just a little bit of optimism.

— refinery29.com, "Teen TV Is Darker Than Dark & Cloak And Dagger Is The Proof," 8 June 2018
But the tropical setting provides a good backdrop for the cultural intrigue.

— steven strom, Ars Technica, "Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire," 4 June 2018
In a bizarre and opaque tale of deception and intrigue, a Russian journalist detested by the Kremlin faked his own murder in Ukraine.

— The Economist, "Politics this week," 31 May 2018
With so many already-legendary characters involved, there will be plenty of room for intrigue.

— andrew sharp, SI.com, "Nobody Needed Another Warriors-Cavs Finals," 30 May 2018
Episodes mix international intrigue and bursts of violence with lovers’ quarrels.

— john jurgensen, WSJ, "In ‘Killing Eve,’ a Surprising Plot Builds an Audience," 21 May 2018
But now his life of international intrigue is coming to an end.

— jay weaver, miamiherald, "Prosecutor Dick Gregorie ends career of catching the world's baddest drug traffickers | Miami Herald," 16 May 2018
Meanwhile, fantasies of luxury, escape and intrigue, with stories for grownups that feature attractive individuals getting away with preposterous crimes, have become as rare as a flawless emerald.

— stephanie zacharek, Time, "Could Ocean’s 8 Mark the Return of the Great Glam Caper?," 3 May 2018
Dalik’s decision to sit key pieces wasn’t the only source of international intrigue.

— john henry, star-telegram, "Nearly 80,000 watch Croatia edge Mexico in World Cup tuneup at AT&T Stadium | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intrigue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of intrigue

French intricate affair, from Italian intrigo, from intrigare to entangle, from Latin intricare — see intricate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1609

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

intrigue Synonyms

Synonyms

conspiracy, design, machination, plot, scheme;

Related Words

counterconspiracy, counterplot;

frame-up;

manipulation, subterfuge, trickery;

artifice, contrivance, cover-up, dodge, draft, maneuver, stratagem, trick;

cabal, confederacy, ring;

game, gimmick, racket;

ground plan, program, strategy, system;

collusion, complicity, connivance, conniving, conspiration;

Synonym Discussion of intrigue

plot, intrigue, machination, conspiracy, cabal mean a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end. plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

- an assassination plot

intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

- backstairs intrigue

machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

- the machinations of a party boss

conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

- a conspiracy to fix prices

cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

- a cabal among powerful senators

intrigue

verb in·trigue \ in-ˈtrēg \

Definition of intrigue

intrigued; intriguing

transitive verb

1 : cheat, trick

2 : to get, make, or accomplish by secret scheming

intrigued myself into the club

3 obsolete : entangle

4 : to arouse the interest, desire, or curiosity of

intrigued by the tale

intransitive verb

: to carry on an intrigue (see ¹intrigue); especially : plot, scheme

—

intriguer

noun

See intrigue defined for English-language learners

See intrigue defined for kids

Examples of intrigue in a Sentence

One day during math study period, after I'd finished my regular assignment, I took out a fresh sheet of paper and tried to solve a problem that had intrigued me: whether the first player in a game of ticktacktoe can always win, given the right strategy. —Martin Gardner, Scientific American, August 1998
Bundy was also a man whose thinking in foreign affairs was extremely conventional … but who in the area of domestic policy was curiously more open-minded and unconventional, so that throughout the Kennedy years, friends would be intrigued by the difference in Bundy. —David Halberstam, Harper's, July 1969
evidence that the leading manufacturers had intrigued to keep prices artificially high
the mystery story intrigued me so that I read it in one sitting

Recent Examples of intrigue from the Web

So when word started trickling out that Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey had a new nose ring, we were intrigued.

— sam schube, GQ, "Jack Dorsey Got a Nose Ring," 8 June 2018
Jennifer Eigenbrode, an astrobiologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland who led the organics study, said she's intrigued by the possibility that life might have existed and adapted on Mars.

— marcia dunn, chicagotribune.com, "New Mars discoveries in ancient lakebed advance case for possible life," 7 June 2018
She was especially intrigued by the discovery of sulfur within the organic molecules, which probably helps explain how the organic molecules were preserved on the surface of Mars for a long period of time despite the harsh radiation.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "Finally, scientists have found intriguing organic molecules on Mars," 7 June 2018
Instead, he was intrigued by the musical possibilities, and Zeal & Ardor was born.

— saby reyes-kulkarni, Billboard, "Manuel Gagneux Enjoys 'Blasphemizing the Blasphemy' With Zeal & Ardor," 4 June 2018
She was intrigued and felt that the new technology would be a good fit for comedy.

— liz ohanesian, Los Angeles Magazine, "How an Actress and Accordion Player Became a Comedy Virtual Reality Pioneer," 29 May 2018
Ralph Heim, vice president of media and sponsorships at Sonic Drive-In, said he was intrigued by several of the new data targeting products for television ads.

— New York Times, "Why Traditional TV Is in Trouble," 13 May 2018
As for Mette Hay, the design company’s co-founder, Sonos was a natural choice for a collaborator: We were intrigued by Sonos’ philosophy of sound architecture, its approach to contemporary design and sophisticated manufacturing techniques.

— lauren ro, Curbed, "Sonos and Hay release limited collection of colorful speakers," 17 Apr. 2018
Author Patrick Parr said he’d first been intrigued by this woman named Betty after reading a 1986 biography of King, Bearing The Cross by David Garrow.

— angela helm, The Root, "MLK’s White Girlfriend Speaks Out After All These Years," 1 Apr. 2018