DictionaryAI

intrigue

Sayin-TREEGUS/ɪnˈtɹiɡ//ɪnˈtɹiːɡ/
As a nounIN-treeg

Verbintrigues, intriguing, intrigued

Noun pluralintrigues

7 meanings of intrigue

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To make someone very interested or curious about something.

    Like a wrapped gift that makes you want to peek inside.

    The strange noise intrigued the whole class.

    Puzzles intrigue many young children.

    Similarfascinate, interest, puzzle, captivate, absorb

    Oppositebore

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable or uncountable
    A secret plan to get something by tricking other people.

    Like a hidden game where players make secret moves against each other.

    The story is full of intrigue and secret deals.

    There was a lot of intrigue among the king's advisors.

    Similarscheming, plotting, conspiracy, machination, subterfuge

    Note
  3. 3
    verbintransitive
    To secretly make plans to harm or trick someone.

    Like quietly setting a trap while pretending to be friendly.

    The two brothers intrigued to take their father's land.

    Some workers intrigue against their bosses in secret.

    Similarplot, scheme, conspire, connive, maneuver

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    A secret romantic affair between two people.

    Like a love story kept hidden from everyone around.

    The whole town gossiped about the secret intrigue between them.

    Their intrigue lasted only one summer.

    Similaraffair, liaison, romance, dalliance

    Note
  5. 5
    nouncountable
    The main plot of a story, play, or poem.

    Like the twists and turns that make a story exciting.

    The intrigue of the play kept the audience guessing.

    This poem has a simple intrigue that is easy to follow.

    Similarplot, storyline

  6. 6
    verbintransitive
    To carry on a secret love affair.

    Like meeting someone secretly without telling a soul.

    The two had been intriguing for months before anyone noticed.

    They intrigue in secret, meeting only at night.

    Note
  7. 7
    verbtransitive
    To make something tangled and full of secret tricks.

    Like tangling a straight string into a knotted mess.

    The lawyers intrigued the case until no one understood it.

    Too many side deals intrigue the simple plan.

    Similarcomplicate, entangle, tangle, muddle

    Oppositesimplify, clarify, untangle

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of intrigue apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word came from French, which took it from Italian, going back to a Latin word meaning 'I entangle or confuse.'