1
a
: the practice of engaging in secret schemes
b
: a secret scheme : machination
2
: a clandestine love affair
intrigued; intriguing
1
: to arouse the interest, desire, or curiosity of
intrigued by the tale
3
: to get, make, or accomplish by secret scheming
intrigued myself into the club
4
obsolete
: entangle
: to carry on an intrigue (see intrigue entry 1)
intriguer
noun
Synonyms
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 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
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
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
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 WebTroy Smith, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
Notable bits of intrigue are included, such as the government poaching Dutch producers who were known for their quality cloth and bringing them to France to set up factories, and details of British spies who poached skilled workers to make silk across the English Channel.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 16 Oct. 2024
Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024
Scientists have been intrigued by the vents, and the types of creatures that live around them, for half a century.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intrigue 
Noun
Inductees The intrigue: The class of 2024 includes A Tribe Called Quest, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Mary J. Blige, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang and Ozzy Osbourne.
—Troy Smith, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
Notable bits of intrigue are included, such as the government poaching Dutch producers who were known for their quality cloth and bringing them to France to set up factories, and details of British spies who poached skilled workers to make silk across the English Channel.
—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 16 Oct. 2024
Verb
This diversity is sure to intrigue and inspire any literature enthusiast.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024
Scientists have been intrigued by the vents, and the types of creatures that live around them, for half a century.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intrigue
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.
Dictionary Entries Near intrigue
Cite this Entry
“Intrigue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intrigue. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intrigue
1 of 2 verb
in·trigue
in-ˈtrēg 
intrigued; intriguing
1
: to get or accomplish by secret plotting
intrigued their way into the party
3
: to arouse the interest or curiosity of
intrigued by the tale
intriguer
noun
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