intriguing
- 1Making someone want to find out more because it seems strange or mysterious.
Like a wrapped gift that makes you want to peek inside.
The detective found the unmarked letter deeply intriguing.
Her intriguing answer left everyone with more questions.
Similarmysterious, enigmatic, cryptic, arcane, uncertain
Oppositeboring, dull, uninteresting, unremarkable
- 2Taking part in secret plots or schemes against other people.
Like someone who secretly makes plans to trick others.
The intriguing courtiers whispered plans behind the king's back.
Those intriguing advisers cared only about gaining more power.
Similarscheming, conniving, designing, Machiavellian
Note
- 3Present participle of intrigue. Use this -ing form when the action is happening right now.
The unsolved case was intriguing the new detectives.
His mysterious past kept intriguing everyone who met him.
Note
Less common meanings
- 4Having a secret love affair that breaks the rules of society.
Like secretly seeing someone you are not allowed to be with.
The intriguing widow slipped out to meet her lover at midnight.
Gossip spread that the intriguing young wife had taken a secret lover.
Note
- 5Secret plotting or scheming done to trick people or gain power.
Like secretly making plans behind people's backs to get what you want.
There was much intriguing among the king's advisers that winter.
In all these negotiations, and caballings, and intriguings, the person most concerned, Frances Coke, the beauty and the heiress, was only the ball in the game.
1909, Thomas Longueville, The Curious Case of Lady PurbeckHere, intriguings means secret plots and schemes.Similarscheming, plotting, conspiring, maneuvering
Note
Showing meanings only.
intriguing is a form of intrigue
intrigue, verb: To make someone very interested or curious about something. Full entry
- Spelling
- intrigue → intriguing: drop the e, add -ing
Practice
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