intrigue
C1Formal, literary, news
Definition
Meaning
To arouse curiosity or interest; to engage in secret plotting.
A secret, complex, or underhanded scheme; the quality of being fascinating or mysterious.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a verb: often implies a fascinating, complex mystery. As a noun: implies secret, possibly illicit, political or romantic scheming.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Noun use for 'secret scheme' is slightly more formal in AmE.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'intrigue' often carries connotations of sophistication (verb) or underhandedness (noun).
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] intrigue [O][S] be intrigued by [O][S] intrigue to VERBVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a web of intrigue”
- “cloak-and-dagger intrigue”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describes complex corporate manoeuvring or mergers: 'The takeover was surrounded by boardroom intrigue.'
Academic
Used in history/political science for secret power struggles: 'The paper analyses the diplomatic intrigue preceding the war.'
Everyday
Describes something that sparks curiosity: 'The mysterious package on the doorstep intrigued me.'
Technical
Rare in hard sciences. Used in literary analysis for plot devices.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The unusual markings on the artefact intrigued the archaeologists.
- She was intrigued to learn he had been a professional musician.
American English
- The new evidence intrigued the detective, leading her to reopen the case.
- I'm intrigued by your proposal and would like to hear more details.
adverb
British English
- He peered intriguedly through the gap in the curtains.
- She listened intriguedly to the old sailor's tale.
American English
- The scientist watched intriguedly as the unexpected reaction occurred.
- He scanned the cryptic message intriguedly, searching for clues.
adjective
British English
- He gave an intrigued smile as the puzzle pieces fell into place.
- The intrigued onlookers gathered around the street performer.
American English
- With an intrigued expression, she scrolled through the declassified files.
- The intrigued committee asked for a follow-up briefing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The mystery book intrigued me from the first page.
- There was a lot of intrigue in the royal palace long ago.
- The documentary intrigued viewers with its claims about ancient technology.
- He was caught up in the political intrigue surrounding the election.
- What intrigues me most is the paradoxical nature of her earlier philosophy.
- The ambassador was a master of diplomatic intrigue, playing several factions against each other.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
IN + RIGUE (sounds like 'league'). Think of being 'in a secret league'—that's an intrigue.
Conceptual Metaphor
MYSTERY IS A TANGLE/KNOT (a web of intrigue), INTEREST IS A HOOK (to be intrigued).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'интрига' (often just 'plot' of a story). English 'intrigue' stronger on secrecy/conspiracy.
- Verb 'to intrigue' ≠ 'интриговать' (to plot negatively). It often means 'to interest fascinatingly'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'intrigue' as a countable noun for simple interest: 'He felt an intrigue' (wrong). Correct: 'He felt intrigued' or 'He felt a sense of intrigue'.
- Confusing 'intrigued by' with 'interested in'—'intrigued' implies mystery.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'intrigue' as a verb CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. As a verb ('to intrigue'), it is generally positive (to fascinate). As a noun ('an intrigue'), it is often negative, implying secret, underhanded scheming.
'Intrigued by' is the standard, correct preposition. 'Intrigued with' is sometimes heard but is considered non-standard by many style guides.
Both involve secret plans. 'Intrigue' is broader, often for complex schemes for power or advantage. 'Conspiracy' strongly implies an illegal or harmful act agreed upon secretly.
Yes, in everyday language, 'intriguing' is very frequently used. The verb is slightly more formal, though still common.