The English language features thousands of words, and new ones get invented occasionally. It is nearly impossible for most people, including native speakers, to know and understand all English words. We introduce you to a general term, “intrigued,” and let you know the best “intrigued definition and meaning.” Here’s how to define “intrigued”:
Intrigued means being fascinated by something strange or unusual. It also refers to something that arouses interest or curiosity. Intrigued describes a secret or underhand plot or scheme as a clandestine love affair. Refer to this word also when describing an unusual experience or encounter.
The word “intrigued” is versatile and can apply in various contexts. Therefore, learning its different meanings will help you determine the appropriate contexts for its application. Read on for a deep dive into the definition, what does intrigued mean, usage, and history of the word “intrigued.”
What is the Definition of Intrigued?
Intrigued refers to being fascinated by an unusual or mysterious event or thing. Refer to this word when describing a secret love affair, plot, or scheme.
Here are some examples in sentences:
- Mary has intrigued Simon since they met one week ago.
- We were equally intrigued by how the water flowed upwards instead of in the opposite direction.
- He has intrigued me since the first day at the annual show.
What is the Meaning of Intrigued?
Intrigued also means to arouse interest or curiosity. This word describes how people feel when they encounter something new that is different or interesting.
If you keenly look at the first and second meanings, you will realize a slight variation. The first definition focuses on fascination because of mysterious happenings, while this second definition focuses on interest because of interesting or delightful occurrences.
Here are some sentence examples:
- The concept of hibernation for centuries among some animal species has intrigued local scientists.
- I was intrigued by their relationship more than anything else they said.
- The mechanics intrigued them so much that they joined the project.
Other Meanings of Intrigued
Like most English words, intrigued is a versatile word. That means it has several meanings. Each meaning determines the context in which you can apply this word.
Below are some of the lesser-known meanings of “intrigued.” You should know more about this word from each meaning. Here we go!
Meaning 1: Intrigued is a strong desire to do or have something. For instance, a woman in a loveless marriage may be intrigued by an external affair. This implies a strong desire to participate in a clandestine love affair.
Meaning 2: To engage in a secret or underhanded plot or scheme often to accomplish evil or unlawful ends. In a sentence, “the unruly governor intrigued capturing the throne.
This implies that capturing the throne is an underhanded scheme, and the governor is a participant. Another example is “The evidence of his wife’s affair had intrigued to keep him distracted as they took over his business.”
Meaning 3: Another meaning of intrigued is to effect or cause to be accepted or rejected by secret plotting. For instance, “Simon Cowel was intrigued out of the cast titled Dancing With the Stars.” This implies that a secret scheme prompted his rejection of the cast.
Synonyms for Intrigued
There are numerous words with the same meaning as the word “intrigued.” Learning these words is great for enhancing your vocabulary. They can come in handy if you want to avoid the monotony of using the same word.
Synonyms also help you adhere to the rules of writing in English. For instance, writers are advised against using the same word multiple times in one sentence.
Below are some synonyms of intrigued;
- Inspired
- Prejudiced
- Allure
- Seduce
- Fascinated
- Stirred
- Rope in
- Implicated
- Intent
- Responsive
- Biased
- Engrossed
- Enamour
- Hypnotize
- Stimulated
- Magnetized
- Touched
- Hooked
- Charmed
- Awakened
- Captivated
- Obsessed
- Mesmerized
Antonyms of Intrigued
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Below are some common antonyms of intrigued;
- Absent
- Abstracted
- Distracted
- Inattentive
- Inobservant
- Unfocused
- Preoccupied
- Disinterested
- Uninterested
- Honesty
- Truthfulness
When to Use the Synonyms and Antonyms of Intrigued
You can use synonyms as an alternative for a word and antonyms as the opposite. However, this may depend on the context. Some antonyms and synonyms only apply in one context.
For instance, if the context is “having an interest or desire,” interested and uninterested may apply as a synonym and antonym, respectively. The exact words may not apply if the context is “a plan or scheme to achieve an unlawful end.” Therefore, you must be keen when using synonyms and antonyms; otherwise, you will use the wrong words for your intended meaning.
How to Use Intrigued in a Sentence
You can use “intrigued” in many contexts and sentences to refer to a person interested in something unusual. You can also use it as a verb or adjective, depending on the context.
As explained earlier, “intrigued” is a versatile word that applies in multiple contexts. Therefore, the context determines how you use it in a sentence. For instance, use it as a past tense of intrigue, meaning to engage in a secret scheme for evil ends or to hold someone’s attention. As an adjective in a sentence, the word means “interested or involved in something or a plan.”
10 Examples of Intrigued in a Sentence
After learning the intrigued definition, the next natural step is using the word in sentences. You can comfortably construct sentences with the word “intrigued” after reading the sections above. Let’s start with the examples below.
- The new scents intrigued her to shop for a new signature perfume at the city store.
- The students were so intrigued by his words that they signed up for the three-week course.
- The Biologists watched the entire show, and you could tell he was intrigued by how graceful the cells moved on the plate.
- The students intrigued him with their views on the subject and began to hear others views.
- The mystery of the story intrigued the students to read it in its entirety.
- The intrigued onlookers came onto their balconies and watched the parade for hours.
- I was totally intrigued by the article since I have never seen someone write an opposing piece so confidently.
- The revelation of the missing billions had intrigued to garner support for the opposition party.
- The Samir family is obsessed with power and intrigued because of what popularity means to powerful people.
- The idea that matter can exist in several spaces simultaneously has intrigued many physicists.
How Do You Spell Intrigued?
The correct spelling for this word is “I.N.T.R.I.G.U.E.D”
Another significant element of learning a new word is mastering its spelling. Misspelling a word can alter its meaning and that of your sentence. It can also change its context.
Therefore, you should master the spelling of new words as you learn about them. Intrigued is a simple word to spell. However, many forget the letter “u” since it is not usually pronounced.
How Do You Pronounce Intrigued?
This word is pronounced as “\in-kurd\” or “\in-tregd\.”
The pronunciation may differ depending on the English accent. The American and British accents are the most common in the English language. Therefore, use the pronunciations based on where you stay and who you want to address.
How Many Syllables Are In Intrigued?
The word intrigued has two syllables.
The two syllables in this word are -in and -trigued. The stressed syllable is the second one.
History and Etymology of Intrigued
The word intrigued originated from the French “intriguer” in the early 16th century.
It comes from the verb “intrigue,” which means to arouse the interest or curiosity of someone or something. Intrigued was introduced in the early 16th century. However, this word was initially rejected by English writers. Most saw it as an unneeded French substitute for existing English words like fascinate, puzzle, or interest.
It wasn’t until the early 19th century that English writers started using the word “intrigue”. After its acceptance, other variations of this word, like “intrigued,” started gaining popularity.
Note that this word’s use among the overall population started before the writers accepted the word. This implies that people started using this word centuries before English writers opened up to it.
When Was Intrigued First Used?
This word was first used in 1610 as the past tense of intrigue, meaning to trick, deceive, or cheat.
Over the centuries, this word has adapted other meanings. For instance, in 1974, the word meant “to plot or scheme.” On the other hand, in 1894, it was used to mean “exciting curiosity.” This word also appears in Old English, meaning “to entangle or ensnare.”
Conclusion
The word intrigued stems from the word intrigue, meaning to fascinate or arise interest, passion, or desire. Intrigues also mean plotting or hatching a scheme for an evil or unlawful result. It is a versatile word that applies in various contexts.
Using this word is relatively easy, thanks to its straightforward meanings. More so, the word intrigue commonly applies in American English, but it is translatable to other languages. Ensure you do not forget this word by using it in as many sentences as possible. Feel free to share some of your sentence creations with this word.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.