intrigue

UK: noun: /ˈɪntriːg/, verb: /ɪnˈtriːg/

US: /v. ɪnˈtrig; n. also ˈɪntrig/

US: (v. in trēg′; n. in trēg′, in′trēg)

Inflections of 'intrigue' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

intrigues

v 3rd person singular

intriguing

v pres p

intrigued

v past

intrigued

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•trigue /v. ɪnˈtrig; n. also ˈɪntrig/   v., -trigued, -tri•guing, n. 
v. 

1. to arouse the curiosity or interest of by unusual, new, or otherwise fascinating qualities:
   [~ + object] Fairy tales intrigue many children.
2. to plan or plot secretly or in a dishonest way:
   [no object] The dukes intrigued against the king.

n. 

3. the use of dishonest or secret plots or plans:
   [uncountable] The king's court was full of intrigue.
4. such a plot or plan:
   [countable] political intrigues.

in•tri•guer, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•trigue  (v. in trēg′;n. in trēg′, in′trēg), v., -trigued, -tri•guing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to arouse the curiosity or interest of by unusual, new, or otherwise fascinating or compelling qualities;
   appeal strongly to;
   captivate:
   The plan intrigues me, but I wonder if it will work.
2. to achieve or earn by appealing to another's curiosity, fancy, or interest:
   to intrigue one's way into another's notice.
3. to draw or capture:
   Her interest was intrigued by the strange symbol.
4. to accomplish or force by crafty plotting or underhand machinations.
5. [Obs.] to entangle.
6. [Obs.] to trick or cheat.

v.i. 

7. to plot craftily or underhandedly.
8. to carry on a secret or illicit love affair.

n. 

9. the use of underhand machinations or deceitful stratagems.
10. such a machination or stratagem or a series of them;
    a plot or crafty dealing:
    political intrigues.
11. a secret or illicit love affair.
12. the series of complications forming the plot of a play.

• Latin intrīcāre to entangle; see intricate
• Italian intrigare
• French intriguer
• 1640–50

in•tri′guer, n. 
in•tri′guing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. interest, attract, fascinate.
• 7. manipulate.
• 9, 10. manipulation.
• 10. See conspiracy. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intrigue verb / ɪnˈtriːɡ/ ( -trigues, -triguing, -trigued)

1. (transitive) to make interested or curious
2. (intransitive) to make secret plots or employ underhand methods; conspire
3. (intransitive) often followed by with: to carry on a clandestine love affair

noun / ɪnˈtriːɡ ˈɪntriːɡ/

1. the act or an instance of secret plotting, etc
2. a clandestine love affair
3. the quality of arousing interest or curiosity; beguilement

Etymology: 17th Century: from French intriguer, from Italian intrigare, from Latin intrīcāre; see intricate

inˈtriguer noun