intrigue

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the practice of engaging in secret schemes
b
: a secret scheme : machination
2
: a clandestine love affair

intrigue

2 of 2

verb

in·​trigue in-ˈtrēg How to pronounce intrigue (audio)
intrigued; intriguing

transitive verb

1
: to arouse the interest, desire, or curiosity of
intrigued by the tale
2
3
: to get, make, or accomplish by secret scheming
intrigued myself into the club
4
obsolete : entangle

intransitive verb

: to carry on an intrigue (see intrigue entry 1)
especially : plot, scheme
intriguer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of intrigue in a Sentence

Noun 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 Stacks2002
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 Verb 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 on the Web
Noun
For Curbed, Bridget Read spins a cinematic story of deception and intrigue worthy of a blockbuster movie. Longreads, 15 Mar. 2024 There’s plenty of intrigue as to writer-director Anderson’s untitled film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Alana Haim and Chase Infiniti. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 But this particular palace intrigue has everyone talking like a conspiracy theorist. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 29 Feb. 2024 Executive turnover dialed up the palace intrigue in the Magic Kingdom this week. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 Calvados, apricot, thyme and nutmeg add to the cocktail’s intrigue. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024 Royals under mounting pressure The family traditionally releases a family photo on Mother’s Day, but this year’s image came amid a backdrop of intrigue and confusion over Kate’s extended absence following her January operation. Rob Picheta, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 For the first handful of possessions, the Nuggets’ encore to a statement win foreshadowed a layer of unexpected intrigue. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024 The Proprietary Nature of Why Unified's AI Much of the details regarding Why Unified's AI technology remain undisclosed and proprietary, adding a layer of intrigue and exclusivity to their offering. Chris Gallagher, The Arizona Republic, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
Folsom’s animal sanctuary intrigued me because of its mission not to breed, sell or trade animals, but instead, enrich their lives. Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024 Children this age are intrigued by colors, sounds, and textures. Julie Evans, Parents, 22 Mar. 2024 He was intrigued by the private eye character, envisioning the role as a Sydney Greenstreet type with a Panama suit and hat. Chris Koseluk, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024 Study co-author Alexandra Morton-Hayward, now a paleobiologist at the University of Oxford in England, first became intrigued by brains while working as an undertaker. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024 The new observation intrigues astronomers because the molecules detected around the stars could be crucial ingredients for potentially habitable worlds, and those ingredients could be incorporated into the planets that will likely eventually form around the stars. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 When Nolan approached Göransson with his nearly 300-page script for Oppenheimer, the composer was intrigued from the very first page. Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2024 The sensuality and wildness of Carmen totally intrigued me as a little girl . Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024 That discrepancy has intrigued cosmologists, potentially pointing to cracks in the standard cosmological model. Liz Kruesi, Quanta Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intrigue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1612, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of intrigue was in 1609

Dictionary Entries Near intrigue

Cite this Entry

“Intrigue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intrigue. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intrigue

1 of 2 verb
in·​trigue in-ˈtrēg How to pronounce intrigue (audio)
intrigued; intriguing
1
: to get or accomplish by secret plotting
intrigued their way into the party
2
3
: to arouse the interest or curiosity of
intrigued by the tale
intriguer noun

intrigue

2 of 2 noun
in·​trigue ˈin-ˌtrēg How to pronounce intrigue (audio)
in-ˈtrēg
1
: a secret and complicated scheme : plot
2
: a secret love affair

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