adjective
Uncommon
intrigued
in-TREEGD
Intrigued (adjective) means Very interested in something because it seems curious, mysterious or unexpected, and wanting to know more about it. Example: “I was intrigued by the job title, so I read the whole advert.”
adjective
1
Very interested in something because it seems curious, mysterious or unexpected, and wanting to know more about it.
"I was intrigued by the job title, so I read the whole advert."
"She looked intrigued rather than annoyed by the interruption."
verb
1
Past tense of intrigue: aroused someone's curiosity, or plotted secretly.
"The unsigned letter intrigued detectives for years."
"He intrigued against his own allies to secure the leadership."
How to use intrigued
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCurious about something because it seems interesting or a bit mysterious.
When to use it
Neutral; very common in everyday speech, reviews and social media.
Memory tip
The g is silent as a separate sound: say in-TREEGD, in two syllables.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
intrigued vs interested
intrigued vs intruded
Common pairings
intrigued by
deeply intrigued
more intrigued than ever
I'm intrigued
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I was _____ by the job title, so I read the whole advert.
Etymology
From French intriguer, from Italian intrigare, from Latin intricare 'to entangle', which also gives intricate.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for intrigued
See all rhymes for intrigued →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between intrigued and interested?
Interested simply means you want to pay attention to something. Intrigued adds a puzzle: you are drawn in because something is strange, hidden or unresolved. You are interested in a topic, but intrigued by a mystery.
Do you say intrigued by or intrigued with?
Intrigued by is the standard choice, and works for almost every context. Intrigued with is heard occasionally but sounds odd to many readers, so prefer by.
Is being intrigued a good thing?
Almost always, yes. As an adjective it is positive and describes pleasant curiosity. Only the older verb sense of intrigue, meaning to scheme or plot, carries a negative flavour.
What is the meaning of intrigued?
"intrigued" (adjective) means very interested in something because it seems curious, mysterious or unexpected, and wanting to know more about it.
