SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
intrigue
noun
A secret or deceptive scheme; also the interest such mystery arouses.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Secret scheme
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topIntrigue often involves elaborate secret maneuvering; a scheme need not be secret or harmful.
Interest aroused by mystery
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThis meaning concerns the interest a mystery arouses; mystery and suspense may create that interest.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See intrigue in use
The novel's intrigue centers on a missing map.
The fantasy's central intrigue involves two courtiers secretly exchanging ceremonial messages to make each appear disloyal to the council.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license