intrigued

USAGE SUMMARY

"intrigued" is a perfectly acceptable word in written English.
It is an adjective which means to be highly interested or attracted to something in a way that is complex or mysterious. Example sentence: I was intrigued by the offer to take a free cooking class.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

MO'L If you ever feel the urge to rummage around other people's homes, you'll be intrigued by this website.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I was just intrigued by this idea of you having no possessions, I say.

The Guardian - Film

I was intrigued, and went rifling through cookbooks for recipe inspiration.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Obviously, what intrigued me was to offer a sort of critical reading of the novel, to deconstruct it in some sense," he said.

The Guardian - Film

Yes, there are instances when volunteer positions are abused by fun-seeking individuals who are more intrigued with the idea of experiencing exotic locations and foreign cultures.

The Guardian

I was intrigued to hear that you had "a great time in sea with young daughters, uboating" at the weekend, but I suspect you weren't really impersonating second world war German submarines … more's the pity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Publisher Gary Pulsifer at Arcadia was intrigued at the prospect: "[I'd] love to use it and I can see its effectiveness as we consider books in their original languages from around the world," he said – but at Faber & Faber, editor Sarah Savitt wasn't so sure.

The Guardian - Books

From the front cover I was intrigued, about the look of murder in his eyes and the look of mystery of it, from the clothing that he was wearing to the razor or knife in his dirty left hand, and the brown scruffy matted dog showing its ribs leaning next to him… It's a 335 page book that is brilliantly written with awesome wordplay.

The Guardian

As someone who has written only what might be called worstsellers, I was intrigued.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I found myself intrigued by what made people tick, by the life experiences that led individuals, whether they be politicians, ordinary citizens or criminals for that matter, to act as they do.

The Guardian - Opinion

"All I wanted was a rejection letter, really," said Hartley, who had become intrigued by how contested this hostile, fragile land was, with its Norwegian sovereignty and Russian mining interests.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intrigued" to convey a sense of complex or mysterious interest. It's stronger than simply "interested" and implies a deeper curiosity.

Common error

Avoid using "intrigued" when "interested" is sufficient. "Intrigued" implies a deeper, more complex level of interest, so save it for scenarios where there's an element of mystery or complexity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "intrigued" is as a past participle adjective, often used to describe a state of being interested or fascinated. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "intrigued" is a versatile and commonly used past participle adjective that indicates a state of heightened curiosity or fascination. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news media and professional settings. While often interchangeable with "interested", "intrigued" conveys a more profound and complex level of interest, often associated with mystery or unusual circumstances. When using "intrigued", consider whether the situation truly warrants a stronger expression of interest beyond the more general term "interested". Common alternatives include "fascinated", "curious" and "interested".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fascinated

Focuses on being greatly interested or charmed.

curious

Emphasizes a desire to know or learn something.

interested

A general term for wanting to know more about something.

captivated

Highlights the feeling of being attracted and held by something.

attracted

Focuses on being drawn to something.

engaged

Highlights active involvement or interest.

absorbed

Emphasizes being fully occupied or engrossed.

enthralled

Implies being completely fascinated and delighted.

preoccupied

Focuses on being mentally engaged in something.

riveted

Suggests being completely focused and unable to look away.

FAQs

How can I use "intrigued" in a sentence?

You can use "intrigued" to express a strong sense of curiosity or interest. For example, "I was intrigued by the unusual proposal" or "She seemed intrigued by the complex puzzle".

What are some alternatives to the word "intrigued"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "fascinated", "curious", or "interested".

Is it correct to say "intrigued by" or "intrigued with"?

"Intrigued by" is more common and generally preferred. "Intrigued with" can be used, but it's less frequent and might sound slightly archaic.

What's the difference between "intrigued" and "interested"?

"Interested" is a general term for wanting to know more about something. "Intrigued" implies a deeper, more complex level of interest, often with an element of mystery or complexity that piques one's curiosity.