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Prepositions after adjectives

Intrigued by or intrigued with?

Intrigued by is the standard expression for interest or curiosity. Intrigued with is uncommon and usually sounds unnatural.

Quick answer

Which form is correct?

Use intrigued by when something causes curiosity or interest. Intrigued with is rare and generally avoided in modern English.

I was intrigued by her proposal.
They seemed intrigued by the mystery.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
intrigued by + thing

Showing curiosity about something

This is the normal and idiomatic pattern.

We were intrigued by the results.
2
intrigued by + person

Interested in someone

By can also introduce a person who creates fascination.

She was intrigued by the new professor.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
intrigued by
He was intrigued by the ancient map.
standard and natural
intrigued with
They were intrigued with the design.
uncommon; by is usually preferred
interested in
She is interested in robotics.
more neutral than intrigued by

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using with instead of by

By is the normal preposition after intrigued.

✕ I am intrigued with this idea. ✓ I am intrigued by this idea.

Using intrigued without an object

The adjective usually needs a cause or source of interest.

✕ She was intrigued. ✓ She was intrigued by the story.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We were intrigued ___ the scientist's theory.
2. She seemed intrigued ___ the strange message.
3. Which phrase is more natural in standard English?

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Frequently asked questions

Is intrigued with wrong?

It is not impossible, but it is uncommon and usually less natural than intrigued by.

Can intrigued by refer to people?

Yes. A person can be the source of curiosity or fascination.

What is the difference between intrigued and interested?

Intrigued suggests stronger curiosity or mystery, while interested is more general.

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