Kevin
May 26, 2021
Common Questions
Do you know the definition of intrigued? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word intrigued, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged English Dictionary and Cambridge Dictionary, the word intrigued, pronounced ˈɪntriːɡ, is an adjective that refers to someone who is interested or fascinated by something strange, unusual, or mysterious. Someone who is bored in a marriage might be intrigued by a clandestine love affair, someone else might be intrigued by a secret plan or stratagem. A candidate might incite political intrigue with a scandal. This is a very versatile American English word that can be used in a variety of different settings and circumstances. Try using this word of the day or other new words in a sentence today!
Many different languages also contain words that mean intrigued. You may notice that many of these words look and sound similar to the word intrigues. These cognates are often formed when two words are of a similar origin. This list of translations for the word intrigued is provided by Word Sense.
There are many different words that mean the same things as the word intrigued. These are called synonyms. Synonyms are very useful to know if you are trying to avoid repeating yourself, as well as if you are working on improving your vocabulary. THis list of synonyms for the word intrigued is provided by Thesaurus.
There are also many different words that mean the opposite of the word intrigued. These are called antonyms. Antonyms are also a useful English grammatical device to know in order to expand your vocabulary and knowledge of the English language, This list of antonyms for the term intrigued is also provided by Thesaurus.
The word intrigued can be used in many different contexts and sentences to refer to someone who is interested in something strange or unusual. In this first example, Kate and Hana are trying to come up with a fun date idea.
Hana: I saw this ad for an experimental theater performance that you can participate in from home! They send you a box of stuff and you help solve the mystery with the cast.
Kate: Ooh! I’m intrigued! We should look into tickets, that sounds really fun! Plus I can still be in my pajamas.
Hana: And we can have wine!
Here, Kate uses the word intrigued to show that she is interested in the date idea that Hana brought up. It is a very out of the box idea, but Kate thinks that it sounds fun. In this next example, Hana and Kate are watching the news.
Newscaster: The victim says that they were intrigued by the prospect of a free boat ride as was advertised online, but when they arrived, all of that changed. They were tied to a dock for more than fifteen hours.
Hana: Oh my God, fifteen hours?
Kate: They showed up at some random dock for a free boat ride? Come on.
According to Etymonline, the word intrigue has been used since the 1610s as a verb that means to trick, deceive, or cheat. This word comes from the French intriguer, a 16th century word that has its roots in the Italian intrigare meaning to plot, meddle, or puzzle. The Italian word comes from the Latin intricare, meaning to entangle, perplex, or embarrass. This is also where to get the words intricate and intricately. The verb intrigue was used to mean to plot or scheme by the year 1714. It has been used to mean to excite curiosity since the year 1894, something that the Oxford English Dictionary calls a modern gallicism. The word appears earlier in Old English in the late 14th century as entriken, meaning to entangle or ensnare. It is possible that this came directly from the Latin verb, or it could have had its roots in the Old French entrique. Related words include intrigued, intriguer, intriguing, intrigant, and intrigante.
Overall, the word intrigued, pronounced “ɪnˈtriːɡ” is an adjective that is used to describe someone who is fascinated by or interested in something that is strange, unusual, or out of the ordinary. The word intrigued is commonly used in American English and you may see it frequently in writing and conversation.
