1
as in to devise
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
contrived abstract metal sculptures using old household utensils
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
the mischievous boys were always contriving and trying to pull the prank that would be the talk of the school
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
contrived a way of planning the surprise party without their catching on to it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrive
Sure, much of the drama and plot feels contrived, but that’s true for many reality-show first seasons.
—
Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
The weird behaviors aren’t limited to contrived scenarios.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2025
Everything about her character feels contrived, but especially the stammer, which the trailer misleadingly masks.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
First, it was hastily contrived and had weak monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
—Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrive
Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
The weird behaviors aren’t limited to contrived scenarios.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2025
Everything about her character feels contrived, but especially the stammer, which the trailer misleadingly masks.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
First, it was hastily contrived and had weak monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
—Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrive
Verb
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The most visible plans are those devised by the same international custodians who have engineered postwar order elsewhere in the Middle East.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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To that end, the Charlotte Symphony commissioned Grammy-winning composer Mason Bates to devise a brief musical signature called a sonic logo for the orchestra.—
Adam Bell,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, star-crossed lovers Ellen (Harriet Slater) and Brian (Jamie Roy) managed to plot an escape of their own — but not before getting some major blood on their hands.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
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While Witherspoon dug into the world of trauma surgery, Coben plotted the novel’s key moments.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hammon says Phoenix is now a destination franchise that should be attractive to any free agent when the cloud of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement is lifted.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
9 Oct. 2025
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Syria is in a vulnerable place and is not in position to negotiate from strength, especially as Sharaa tries to open Syria to the Western world, boost its economy and bring back the civil war refugees from neighboring countries.—
Mireille Rebeiz,
The Conversation,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One of the smartest things the subgroup of three commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick did in concocting a 12-team CFP format was to grant automatic playoff berths to the top six conference champions (later five after the Pac-12’s collapse).—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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Maybe the purposefully ambiguous coda was concocted to prove some sort of Rashomon-style truth-is-subjective point.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Tim Skipper called with swagger, Jerry Neuheisel schemed like a gambler and Kevin Coyle unleashed a defense that hunted in packs.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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In London, Angelica used her private connections to elevate her husband’s public power, scheming to ensure Church’s election to Parliament in 1790.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Get our best clever painting hacks to extend the height of a room, space-saving storage ideas, and tips for arranging bedroom furniture.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Oct. 2025
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In other words, this year, the Eagles’ opponents are more often presenting four deep defenders against their three wide receiver sets instead of deploying a single-high safety and arranging the remaining defenders to play closer to the line of scrimmage.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nobel, who died in 1896, invented dynamite.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
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The nuclear age invented inspections and counting rules; the digital age can invent neutral testbeds.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Here's everything to know about the murder of Cliff Lambert and the decades-long ordeal to convict the six men who conspired to kill and steal from him.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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Dryden entered a guilty plea in federal court earlier this year on charges of conspiring to create and distribute animal crush videos.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrive. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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