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
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 Giancarlo Stanton’s arrival at spring training for the New York Yankees has been met with intrigue regarding his slender appearance and role on the ball club. Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Red Footwear Is in for Spring By Laura Jackson The 18th-century court of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) provides the setting for Yorgos Lanthimos’s absurdist black comedy about power struggles and palace intrigue. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2024 Although the existence of dust in space continues to be surrounded by intrigue, an international team of astronomers recently identified a type Ia supernova creating cosmic dust. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 The batwing short-sleeve shirt includes a sultry cutout at the shoulder, giving the basic silhouette a splash of intrigue. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 Professor Mortimer is a physicist with a notorious talent for getting involved in international intrigues that at times veer into science fiction. Ernesto Lechner, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024
Verb
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 How this happened has intrigued a slew of scientists over the years, including Bo Xia, a geneticist at the Broad Institute, an independent institution tied to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 About a year ago, Dave and I suddenly became intrigued with each other. Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2024 If you’ve been intrigued by the Apple Vision Pro, but haven’t yet committed to buying the headset, one airline will soon give you the chance to test-drive—er, pilot?—the new technology. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2024 How the Chicago Bears or a potential trade partner intends to get Williams up to speed intrigues Daniel Jeremiah, the former NFL scout from El Cajon who serves as the NFL Network’s lead draft analyst. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024 Real-world scientists are also intrigued by the idea. Karl Schroeder, IEEE Spectrum, 24 Feb. 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 19 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

More from Merriam-Webster on intrigue

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!