intriguing

1 of 2

adjective

in·​trigu·​ing in-ˈtrē-giŋ 

: engaging the interest to a marked degree : fascinating entry 1

an intriguing story

intriguing

2 of 2

present participle of intrigue entry 2

Synonyms of intriguing

Adjective

• interesting
• fascinating
• engaging

Examples of intriguing in a Sentence

Adjective

The Huns are intriguing not only because of their notoriously hawkish history, but also because of their place as middlemen between Mongol and Turkic ethnicity. —Victor L. Mote, Siberia, 1998

The next two phases of the Cambrian … mark the strangest, most important, and most intriguing of all episodes in the fossil record of animals—the short interval known as the Cambrian explosion … —Stephen Jay Gould, Natural History, July/August 1998

The folklorist Jan Brunvand has documented hundreds of "urban legends," intriguing stories that everyone swears happened to a friend of a friend … and that circulate for years in nearly identical form in city after city, but that can never be documented as real events. —Steven Pinker, The Language Instinct, 1994

The offer is very intriguing.

an intriguing concept that should engender much debate among climatologists

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

New England might have Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez to shadow wide receiver Caleb Douglas, which would be an intriguing matchup that would initially favor the Patriots in a big way. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

Her musical curiosity has taken her in many directions since then, each revealing a different layer of this intriguing and complex performer. — Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

Baugh left Columbia as one of Georgia’s most intriguing young prospects. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026

And while a country pivot for Boyz II Men is plenty intriguing in and of itself, the 2027 album will also be the trio’s first in 10 years since 2017’s Under the Streetlight. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see intrigue entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1752, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intriguing

• fatiguing