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 Web
Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
The suddenly competitive governor's race will be the intrigue.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Nov. 2024
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
For those who are less intrigued by experiential gifts, high-end electronics like Apple AirPods or a new big screen TV (hello, football season) are popular picks.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intrigue 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The intrigue: Democrats have not won a statewide election in Texas since 1994.
—Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
The suddenly competitive governor's race will be the intrigue.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
They’re intrigued by the rise and fall of President Biden.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024
For those who are less intrigued by experiential gifts, high-end electronics like Apple AirPods or a new big screen TV (hello, football season) are popular picks.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for intrigue
Dictionary Entries Near intrigue
Cite this Entry
“Intrigue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intrigue. Accessed 22 Nov. 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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