1. Definition of “Intrigue”
The word “intrigue” can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a verb, it generally means to arouse someone's curiosity or interest, often because something seems mysterious or exciting. For example, “The old, abandoned house on the hill intrigued the local children. They wondered what secrets it held inside.” It can also mean to plot or scheme secretly, as in “The group of politicians were suspected of intriguing against their opponents to gain more power.”
As a noun, “intrigue” refers to a secret plan or plot, or a situation that is full of mystery and arouses curiosity. For instance, “The political intrigue in the capital city was the talk of the town. Everyone was speculating about what was really going on behind the scenes.”
2. Synonyms
- Fascinate
- “Fascinate” means to attract and hold someone's attention strongly, making them very interested. It emphasizes the power of something to draw people in and make them want to know more. For example, “The beautiful and intricate designs of the ancient mosaics fascinated the tourists. They spent hours looking at them and trying to understand the stories they told.” While “intrigue” has an element of mystery in arousing interest, “fascinate” focuses more on the captivating nature of the subject itself that makes people engrossed.
- Interest
- “Interest” as a verb means to cause someone to have a feeling of wanting to know or learn more about something. It's a more general term compared to “intrigue” but serves a similar purpose of getting someone's attention. For example, “The new documentary about space exploration interested a lot of viewers. They were eager to watch it to find out more about the latest discoveries.” “Interest” doesn't necessarily imply the same level of mystery or secrecy as “intrigue” does, but it still makes people curious.
- Captivate
- “Captivate” means to charm or fascinate someone so completely that they can't take their eyes off or stop thinking about something. It has a stronger sense of holding someone's attention firmly. For example, “The magician's performance captivated the audience. They watched in awe, completely absorbed in his tricks.” Similar to “intrigue,” it makes people focus on something, but “captivate” often suggests a more powerful and immediate effect on the viewer or listener.
- Allure
- “Allure” means to attract or tempt someone in a rather charming or seductive way. It implies that there is something appealing about the object or situation that draws people towards it. For example, “The idea of traveling to exotic places allures many adventure seekers. They are lured by the promise of new experiences and beautiful landscapes.” “Allure” has a bit of an element of enticement that is somewhat related to how “intrigue” can draw people in with its mysterious aspects.