INTRIGUES Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

intrigues 1 of 2

noun

plural of intrigue

as in conspiracies

a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends the intrigue was quickly discovered, and the would-be assassins were arrested

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intrigues

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of intrigue

as in plots

to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends evidence that the leading manufacturers had intrigued to keep prices artificially high

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in interests

to hold the attention of the mystery story intrigued me so that I read it in one sitting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of intrigues

Noun

The series has always moved at a deliberate pace, allowing the characters’ social battles and romantic intrigues to simmer. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026 Netflix announced a second melodrama last December, about the secrets and intrigues of an elite Rio de Janeiro family, created in partnership with Amaia Produções and Conspiração, with general direction by Mauro Mendonça Filho. — John Hopewell, Variety, 25 May 2026 The rich textures and thick ambiance of The Eyes of Others are pure high modernist 1960s Italian cinema, but De Sica unfurls the film’s winding intrigues with a contemporary sense of suspense, carnality, and visual boldness. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026 Plus the balcony is useful for intrigues and gossiping about the people below, as seen at Lady Danbury’s ball in season one of Bridgerton. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026 Roshanara became Aurangzeb’s informant, keeping him apprised of court intrigues and politics. — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Mar. 2026 In The Corner That Held Them, rarely does desire raise its head as the nuns busy themselves with dishonest bishops, honest con men, collapsing spires, inconclusive visions, ecclesiastical intrigues, catty infighting, attempts at levitation, and the plague. — Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026 Even when insulted or thwarted – by Spanish intrigues on the Florida frontier, by British seizures in the Caribbean, by pamphleteers accusing him of being a monarch in disguise – Washington’s tone remained measured. — Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2026 Dallas has hosted on Thanksgiving every year but two since 1966, and this latest matchup intrigues despite the mediocre records on both sides. — Miami Herald, 25 Nov. 2025

Verb

As McQueen is about to call the police something in her raw honesty, her boldness, intrigues him. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026 If this topic intrigues you, join us at the free, online Work on Purpose Summit on July 30, 2026. — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 That’s what intrigues them about coming to work for a large company that’s constantly evolving. — Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026 The essential nature of magic especially intrigues physicists like Swingle, who hope to use it on a quantum computer to simulate how gravity behaves in situations where general relativity fails. — Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2026 What about these communities intrigues you and why set the story in that location? — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 The menu has a lot of delicious choices, but the one that intrigues my girlfriend is their overnight oat bowl. — C.w. Cameron, AJC.com, 1 Feb. 2026 Diggs, who intrigues Hafley with his length and size, wore a wristband with play calls on it during the game to help, and Hafley said safeties Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard can guide Diggs on the field, too. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026 All of these have a spiritual edge to them that intrigues me, too. — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 15 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intrigues

Noun

But like many aspects of 21st-century American life, the vaccines became a partisan point of debate as often false anti-vaccine conspiracies spread to millions of people.

— Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
The result is a sprawling theory combining paranoid interpretations of current events with historical conspiracies.

— Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of conspiracies

Verb

But the Green Book plots Ecobalyse points, PEF micropoints and Higg scores together despite their different units and methodologies.

— Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
This chart from Henry Allen at Deutsche Bank plots the rate of inflation at the beginning of each historical period when the Fed began raising rates, against the number of basis points in that rate-raising cycle.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of plots

Verb

With your sisters Kim and Kylie breaking into the acting world over the last couple of years, with American Horror Story, All’s Fair and The Moment, is acting something that still interests you?

— Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to talk about what interests him, in the right context.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of interests

Noun

Along the way, there are before-and-after floor plans, garden schemes, and a recipe for Meyers Family Hot Fudge.

— Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 25 Aug. 2026
Their protection schemes might expect edge rushers, but both Van Ginkel and Turner could drift backward, making the interior more susceptible.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of schemes

Verb

Yet, what fascinates is that Aristotle’s God isn’t a typical divine being who summons and shepherds.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, what fascinates aspiring neurologist Makenzie Stovall is the idea that AI is trying to emulate the brain — an organ whose inner workings continue to leave researchers dumbfounded.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of fascinates

Noun

The Heat are expected to carry only 14 players under standard contract at the start of their season, due to their position against the hard cap created by the machinations for the acquisition of Antetokounmpo.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Extrapolating from salacious and rumor-filled ancient sources, the novel offers an inside scoop into the machinations of the first Roman imperial family.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of machinations

Verb

For how much this book immerses you in the natural world, there is regular talk of machinery and robots in the story.

— Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
From the outset, the show immerses audiences in 1930s New York, and while set in a noir world, there’s a modern aspect to it too.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of immerses

Verb

The Peter Marino Art Foundation occupies the former Rogers Memorial Library, a charming historic building in Southampton, New York, that its namesake has transformed into something much stranger inside.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026
The home occupies the entire top floor of the high-rise, where more than 2,000 square feet of terraces encircle the residence.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of occupies

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intriguers

intrigues

intriguing

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“Intrigues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intrigues. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of intrigues

noun

verb

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