Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense intrigues, present participle intriguing, past tense, past participle intriguedpronunciation note: The noun is pronounced (ɪntriːg). The verb is pronounced (ɪntriːg).
1. variable noun
Intrigue is the making of secret plans to harm or deceive people.
...political intrigue.
...a powerful story of intrigue, passion and betrayal.
...the plots and intrigues in the novel.
Synonyms: plot, scheme, conspiracy, manoeuvre More Synonyms of intrigue
2. verb
If something, especially something strange, intrigues you, it interests you and you want to know more about it.
The novelty of the situation intrigued him. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: interest, fascinate, arouse the curiosity of, attract More Synonyms of intrigue
More Synonyms of intrigue
intrigue in British English
verb (ɪnˈtriːɡ)Word forms: -trigues, -triguing or -trigued
1. (transitive)
to make interested or curious
I'm intrigued by this case, Watson
2. (intransitive)
to make secret plots or employ underhand methods; conspire
3. (intransitive; often foll bywith)
to carry on a clandestine love affair
noun (ɪnˈtriːɡ, ˈɪntriːɡ)
4.
the act or an instance of secret plotting, etc
5.
a clandestine love affair
6.
the quality of arousing interest or curiosity; beguilement
Derived forms
intriguer (inˈtriguer)
noun
Word origin
C17: from French intriguer, from Italian intrigare, from Latin intrīcāre; see intricate
intrigue in American English
(ɪnˈtrig; for n., also ˈɪnˌtrig)
verb intransitiveWord forms: inˈtrigued or inˈtriguing
1.
to carry on a secret love affair
2.
to plot or scheme secretly or underhandedly
verb transitive
3.
to bring on or get by secret or underhanded plotting
4.
to excite the interest or curiosity of; fascinate
the puzzle intrigued her
5. Archaic
to trick or perplex
6. Obsolete
to entangle
noun
7.
an intriguing; secret or underhanded plotting
8.
a secret or underhanded plot or scheme; machination
9.
a secret love affair
SIMILAR WORDS: plot
Derived forms
intriguer (inˈtriguer)
noun
Word origin
Fr intriguer < It intrigare < L intricare: see intricate
Examples of 'intrigue' in a sentence
intrigue
Nonetheless this is an intriguing story told with confidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your new love is an intriguing match of opposites.
The Sun (2016)
Jupiter filters through your job chart and gives you a certain something that intrigues people.
The Sun (2016)
That could change in a heartbeat when your most serious friend makes an intriguing introduction.
The Sun (2016)
There is something new and intriguing about you as the moon checks into your birth sign.
The Sun (2016)
All the time the story becomes more intriguing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
For those who have played under both coaches, it has made for an especially intriguing spectacle.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A relative you rarely see has intriguing news.
The Sun (2017)
If you are single, an intuitive moon puts the name of an intriguing new love prospect in your mind.
The Sun (2016)
There's something new, different and intriguing about you as the moon checks into your birth sign.
The Sun (2016)
Yet his style is curiously gripping and the story is intriguing and often disturbing.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Your new love has an intriguing voice.
The Sun (2009)
You have that certain something that intrigues people.
The Sun (2011)
Why a wealthy businessman buys a rugby club is always intriguing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You make an intriguing discovery about a partner.
The Sun (2012)
To these qualities he added cunning and a sense of timing in political intrigue.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
This intriguing series sees families receive new products to test.
The Sun (2015)
Your oldest relative has some intriguing secrets to share.
The Sun (2008)
The odd and interesting will intrigue you tonight.
The Sun (2015)
You make intriguing discoveries about a partner that will surprise you.
The Sun (2012)
The moon moves into your personality chart to give you a special something that intrigues people.
The Sun (2011)
There is something else about this story that intrigues me.
Christianity Today (2000)
Your new love has an intriguing family background.
The Sun (2011)
There is something new about you that intrigues people.
The Sun (2010)
Of course my dogs were not always displaying such intriguing behaviour.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
Which makes this an intriguing test case.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They will increasingly have to master the dark arts of political intrigue.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So it was intriguing to see a picture of him at a recent library opening.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Your oldest relative has an intriguing secret.
The Sun (2008)
This gives you the freedom to get to know those who intrigue you and to try out various risky concepts.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The case was an intriguing one.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
Such optimism for the energy sector is intriguing, especially given its decline over the past three decades.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I found his case intriguing and he talked about wanting to appeal the death sentence.
The Sun (2014)
But we don't want to give too much away as intrigue and betrayal are at the heart of the storylines.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
intrigue
British English: intrigue NOUN
Intrigue is the making of secret plans to harm or deceive people.
...political intrigue.
American English: intrigue
Brazilian Portuguese: intriga
Chinese: 阴谋
European Spanish: intriga
French: intrigue
German: Intrigen
Italian: intrigo
Japanese: 陰謀
Korean: 음모
European Portuguese: intriga
Latin American Spanish: intriga
British English: intrigue VERB
If something, especially something strange, intrigues you, it interests you and you want to know more about it.
The novelty of the situation intrigued him.
American English: intrigue
Brazilian Portuguese: intrigar
Chinese: 阴谋
European Spanish: fascinar
French: intriguer
German: faszinieren
Italian: intrigare
Japanese: 興味をそそる
Korean: 흥미를 불어 일으키다
European Portuguese: intrigar
Latin American Spanish: fascinar
Chinese translation of 'intrigue'
intrigue
(nˈɪntriːɡ; vbɪnˈtriːɡ)
n(c/u)
阴(陰)谋(謀) (yīnmóu) (个(個), gè)
vt
(= fascinate) 使 ... 感兴(興)趣 (shǐ ... gǎn xìngqù)
1 (noun)
Definition
secret plotting
the plots and intrigues in the novel
Synonyms
plot
a plot to overthrow the government
scheme
a quick money-making scheme
conspiracy
Many people believe there was a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy in 1963.
manoeuvre
manoeuvres to block the electoral process
manipulation
collusion
He found no evidence of collusion between record companies and retailers.
ruse
This was a ruse to divide them.
trickery
They will resort to trickery in order to impress their clients.
cabal
The left saw it as a bourgeois cabal.
stratagem
a competitive stratagem to secure customer loyalty
double-dealing
chicanery
The trial revealed a world of crime, corruption and political chicanery.
sharp practice
wile
His wit and wile has made him one of the sharpest politicians in the Cabinet.
knavery (old-fashioned)
a hotbed of intrigue and malicious knavery
machination
the political machinations that brought him to power
2 (noun)
Definition
a secret love affair
She detected her husband in an intrigue with a co-worker.
Synonyms
affair
Two colleagues were carrying on an affair.
romance
a holiday romance
intimacy
liaison
She embarked on a liaison with a noted society figure.
amour
This meaningful amour had gone horribly wrong.
1 (verb)
Definition
to make interested or curious
The novelty of the situation intrigued him.
Synonyms
interest
This part of the book interests me in particular.
fascinate
She fascinated us, on and off stage.
arouse the curiosity of
attract
Summer attracts visitors to the countryside.
charm
My sister charms everyone she meets.
rivet
titillate
food to titillate the most jaded of palates
pique
tickle your fancy
2 (verb)
Definition
to plot secretly or dishonestly
The main characters spend their time intriguing for control.
Synonyms
plot
They are awaiting trial for plotting against the state.
scheme
Everyone's always scheming and plotting.
manoeuvre
He manoeuvred his way to the top.
conspire
I had a persecution complex and thought people were conspiring against me.
connive
Senior politicians connived to ensure that he was not released.
machinate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of amour
Definition
a secret love affair
This meaningful amour had gone horribly wrong.
Synonyms
love affair,
relationship,
affair,
romance,
intrigue,
liaison,
affaire de coeur
in the sense of attract
Definition
to arouse the interest or admiration of
Summer attracts visitors to the countryside.
Synonyms
allure,
interest,
draw,
invite,
persuade,
engage,
charm,
appeal to,
fascinate,
win over,
tempt,
lure (informal),
induce,
incline,
seduce,
entice,
enchant,
endear,
lead on,
coax,
captivate,
beguile,
cajole,
bewitch,
decoy,
inveigle,
pull,
catch (someone's) eye
in the sense of cabal
Definition
a secret plot or conspiracy
The left saw it as a bourgeois cabal.
Synonyms
plot,
scheme,
intrigue,
conspiracy,
machination
Synonyms of 'intrigue'
intrigue
Explore 'intrigue' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of charm
Definition
to attract, fascinate, or delight
My sister charms everyone she meets.
Synonyms
attract,
win,
please,
delight,
fascinate,
absorb,
entrance,
win over,
enchant,
captivate,
beguile,
allure,
bewitch,
ravish,
mesmerize,
enrapture,
enamour
in the sense of chicanery
Definition
trickery or deception
The trial revealed a world of crime, corruption and political chicanery.
Synonyms
trickery,
cheating,
intrigue,
deception,
artifice,
wiles,
duplicity,
subterfuge,
stratagems,
chicane,
double-dealing,
skulduggery (informal),
sharp practice,
sophistry,
deviousness,
wire-pulling (US),
underhandedness,
dodge
in the sense of collusion
Definition
secret or illegal agreement or cooperation
He found no evidence of collusion between record companies and retailers.
Synonyms
conspiracy,
intrigue,
deceit,
complicity,
connivance,
secret understanding,
fraudulent artifice
in the sense of connive
Definition
to conspire
Senior politicians connived to ensure that he was not released.
Synonyms
conspire,
scheme,
plot,
intrigue,
collude,
cabal
in the sense of conspiracy
Definition
the act of making such plans
Many people believe there was a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy in 1963.
Synonyms
plot,
scheme,
intrigue,
collusion,
confederacy,
cabal,
frame-up (slang),
machination,
league,
golden circle
in the sense of conspire
Definition
to plan a crime together in secret
I had a persecution complex and thought people were conspiring against me.
Synonyms
plot,
scheme,
intrigue,
devise,
manoeuvre,
contrive,
confederate,
cabal,
machinate,
plan,
hatch treason
in the sense of fascinate
Definition
to attract and delight by arousing interest
She fascinated us, on and off stage.
Synonyms
entrance,
delight,
charm,
absorb,
intrigue,
enchant,
rivet,
captivate,
enthral,
beguile,
allure,
bewitch,
ravish,
transfix,
mesmerize,
hypnotize,
engross,
enrapture,
interest greatly,
enamour,
hold spellbound,
spellbind,
infatuate
in the sense of knavery
Definition
dishonest behaviour
a hotbed of intrigue and malicious knavery
Synonyms
dishonesty,
fraud,
corruption,
deception,
deceit,
trickery,
duplicity,
double-dealing,
chicanery,
villainy,
imposture (formal),
roguery,
rascality
in the sense of liaison
Definition
a secretive or adulterous sexual relationship
She embarked on a liaison with a noted society figure.
Synonyms
affair,
romance,
intrigue,
fling,
love affair,
amour,
entanglement,
illicit romance
in the sense of machinate
Synonyms
plot,
plan,
design,
scheme,
engineer,
invent,
intrigue,
devise,
hatch,
manoeuvre,
conspire,
contrive
Additional synonyms
in the sense of machination
Definition
cunning schemes or plots to gain power or harm an opponent
the political machinations that brought him to power
Synonyms
plot,
scheme,
trick,
device,
design,
intrigue,
conspiracy,
manoeuvre,
dodge,
ploy,
ruse,
artifice,
cabal,
stratagem
in the sense of manoeuvre
Definition
a contrived, complicated, and possibly deceptive plan or action
manoeuvres to block the electoral process
Synonyms
stratagem,
move,
plan,
action,
movement,
scheme,
trick,
plot,
tactic,
intrigue,
dodge,
ploy,
ruse,
artifice,
subterfuge,
machination
in the sense of manoeuvre
Definition
to manipulate a situation in order to gain some advantage
He manoeuvred his way to the top.
Synonyms
scheme,
plot,
plan,
intrigue,
wangle (informal),
machinate
in the sense of romance
Definition
a love affair
a holiday romance
Synonyms
love affair,
relationship,
affair,
intrigue,
attachment,
liaison,
amour,
affair of the heart,
affaire (du coeur)
in the sense of ruse
Definition
an action or plan intended to mislead someone
This was a ruse to divide them.
Synonyms
trick,
deception,
ploy,
hoax,
device,
manoeuvre,
dodge,
sham,
artifice,
blind,
subterfuge,
stratagem,
wile,
imposture (formal)
in the sense of scheme
Definition
a secret plot
a quick money-making scheme
Synonyms
plot,
dodge,
ploy,
ruse,
game (informal),
shift,
intrigue,
conspiracy,
manoeuvre,
machinations,
subterfuge,
stratagem
in the sense of scheme
Definition
to plan in an underhand manner
Everyone's always scheming and plotting.
Synonyms
plot,
plan,
intrigue,
manoeuvre,
conspire,
contrive,
collude,
wheel and deal,
machinate
in the sense of stratagem
Definition
a clever plan to deceive an enemy
a competitive stratagem to secure customer loyalty
Synonyms
trick,
scheme,
manoeuvre,
plan,
plot,
device,
intrigue,
dodge,
ploy,
ruse,
artifice,
subterfuge,
feint,
wile,
tactic,
gambit
in the sense of titillate
Definition
to arouse or excite pleasurably, esp. in a sexual way
food to titillate the most jaded of palates
Synonyms
excite,
arouse,
interest,
thrill,
provoke,
turn on (slang),
tease,
tickle,
tantalize
in the sense of trickery
They will resort to trickery in order to impress their clients.
Synonyms
deception,
fraud,
cheating,
con (informal),
hoax,
pretence,
deceit,
dishonesty,
swindling,
guile,
double-dealing,
skulduggery (informal),
chicanery,
hanky-panky (informal),
hokum (slang, US, Canadian),
monkey business (informal),
funny business,
jiggery-pokery (informal, British),
imposture
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wile
His wit and wile has made him one of the sharpest politicians in the Cabinet.