as in strained
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
the contrived applause of a TV studio audience that has been told when to clap
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in concocted
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
contrived abstract metal sculptures using old household utensils
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in plotted
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 negotiated
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 contrived
Ars Technica, 3 Feb. 2025
The past two seasons have given us Michigan vs. Everybody and Ohio Against the World, both of which felt a bit contrived.
—Austin Meek, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Davis Gates is the lead puppeteer for the union and the mayor and chief antagonist to Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, and her mean-spirited grandstanding is little more than a series of contrived media stunts.
—Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Gabbard dissented from this contrived consensus on Syria, actively resisting the false narratives of the permanent national security bureaucracy.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Adjective
That said, the experiment created a pretty contrived situation.
—Ars Technica, 3 Feb. 2025
The past two seasons have given us Michigan vs. Everybody and Ohio Against the World, both of which felt a bit contrived.
—Austin Meek, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Davis Gates is the lead puppeteer for the union and the mayor and chief antagonist to Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, and her mean-spirited grandstanding is little more than a series of contrived media stunts.
—Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Gabbard dissented from this contrived consensus on Syria, actively resisting the false narratives of the permanent national security bureaucracy.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrived
Adjective
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This includes evaluating how alternate energy sources can supplement strained grids, especially in regions where rapid economic expansion may outpace existing energy infrastructure.—
Whitaker Irvin Jr.,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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Listen to this article GLENDALE, Ariz. — Austin Slater became the latest Chicago White Sox outfielder slowed by an injury after he was scratched from Monday’s lineup because of a strained left oblique.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Desperate for more space, the city negotiated an initial $40 million deal with the Row, still in financial straits from the pandemic.—
Luis Ferré-Sadurní,
New York Times,
23 Dec. 2024
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However, as lawmakers negotiated that year’s finance legislation, some believed the government needed stronger transparency legislation.—
Nana Ama Sarfo,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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For its eighth test flight, Starship carried four mock satellites, mimicking Starlink internet satellites, to practice future payload deployments.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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Starship reached nearly 90 miles in altitude before trouble struck and before four mock satellites could be deployed.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That should become a standard part of the chain-of-thoughts being devised by AI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
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Similarly, Ping’s team devised a system that pauses the pH-modulating current just long enough for a graphene transistor to record accurate readings without interference.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The book, which was written in 1948, focuses on the consequences of totalitarianism, the government’s mass surveillance of the public and how truth and fact can be manipulated.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
3 Jan. 2025
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The actor who plays Sofia Falcone in the HBO series never went method (unlike some Batman villains), but the part required tapping into a character who has been gaslit, manipulated, and isolated from society in every way.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Of the six substitutions Slot made in the defeat to PSG, Quansah was the brightest addition to the side, despite coming on at right-back, an unnatural position for him.—
Andy Jones,
The Athletic,
13 Mar. 2025
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While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Even the bed—a plush, temperature-regulating masterpiece—felt like it had been engineered specifically to cradle you into the best rest of your life.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
30 Dec. 2024
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While there is entertainment from a live DJ, the Guest House is acoustically engineered for conversation, with music layered into the ambiance.—
Melinda Sheckells,
The Hollywood Reporter,
29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The pivotal addition to the the state Civil Code reads: Existing law provides that libel is a false and unprivileged written publication that injures the reputation and that slander is a false and unprivileged publication, orally uttered, that injures the reputation, as specified.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2025
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Fowler played more of a false nine and dropped deeper to stitch the play together, combining well with Jill Roord.—
Charlotte Harpur,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to contrived
Cite this Entry
“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrived. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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