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Does the word “intriguing” have a positive connotation?

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  • Some more context could help this question a lot. Do you have a specfic sentence that uses "intriguing" that you doubt expresses a positive connotation?
    – James K
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 10:56

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Yes, it often does. Some random recent tweets:

The Heat have found two more young gems in KZ Okpala and Max Strauss. Miami has the best development system in the NBA. Which makes the potential of trading for James Harden even more intriguing.

“It remains one of the most intriguing signals found by Breakthrough Listen—or indeed any SETI program—to date, one that Sheikh compares to the so-called ‘Wow! signal’ detected in 1977, which some believed to be of extraterrestrial origin.”

What Canelo lacks in height & reach compared to the other fighters at 168, he makes up with fundamentals & a layered game. He’s great timing, goes to the body, is a sharpshooter, great defensive movement & has a chin. We’ll see how it plays out vs Smith. Intriguing fight.

one of the intriguing mysteries about this "Rex Lapis temple" in Qing Ce village are the apples that appear on the 'altar' everyday; there's only one certain drunk bard I know who really loves apples; makes you wonder who placed these here daily

From the classic and familiar to the new and intriguing, find your next fave in This Week’s Watch List! What are you watching first?

These all have positive or mildly positive connotations.

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  • Does 'intriguing' often, or at all, have negative connotations?
    – Michael Harvey
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 10:23
  • I don't think so, unless ironically. What do you think?
    – legatrix
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 10:44
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    A fraud detective might say that some figures in a company's accounts are intriguing. This might have negative implications (prison, etc) for the company's owner or finance officers, but positive ones for the police investigation.
    – Michael Harvey
    Commented Dec 19, 2020 at 10:55
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Based on dictionary definitions and examples, I would say that, in normal usage, 'intriguing' always has a positive connotation:

intriguing
adjective

very interesting because of being unusual or mysterious:

an intriguing possibility/question

Intriguing (Cambridge Dictionary)

Synonyms include interesting, absorbing, gripping, riveting, compelling, fascinating. All of these are positive.

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