noun

intrigue

IHNT-reeg

noun

A secret plot or scheme, often involving deception.

"The palace was full of political intrigue and backstabbing."

"Rumours of a corporate takeover fuelled weeks of intrigue."

verb

To arouse someone's curiosity or fascination.

"The strange ending of the film intrigued the whole audience."

How to Use Intrigue

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a secretive scheme (noun) or the act of fascinating someone (verb).

Common pairings

political intrigue a web of intrigue intrigued by

intrigued past tense, intrigues plural, intrigues singular

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The palace was full of political _____ and backstabbing.

From French intrigue, ultimately from Latin intrīcō ("to entangle, perplex") — the same root that gives us "intricate."

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