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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrive
The entire deal felt cheesy and contrived.
—
Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
The ice bucket set-up for their initial confrontation felt contrived and Vida and Dodie’s dramatic actions involving their hotel room door felt out of character.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Prosecutors with the First Judicial District Attorney's Office claim Heskett contrived a story that he had been attacked by a man near a trail in the state park.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
This time, specific references were stripped away, leaving only a distillation of the dark rage evoked by metal and punk, equal parts elemental and contrived.
—Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrive
Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
The ice bucket set-up for their initial confrontation felt contrived and Vida and Dodie’s dramatic actions involving their hotel room door felt out of character.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Prosecutors with the First Judicial District Attorney's Office claim Heskett contrived a story that he had been attacked by a man near a trail in the state park.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
This time, specific references were stripped away, leaving only a distillation of the dark rage evoked by metal and punk, equal parts elemental and contrived.
—Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrive
Verb
-
Counties across the state have been pondering this crisis and devising solutions that can be accomplished in partnership with our state leaders — because this crisis is unquestionably our shared responsibility to solve.—
Monica Montgomery Steppe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
-
Rue frantically offered to help get Alamo's money back, calling Faye (Chloe Cherry) up on the phone and devising a plan to get a safe key from Wayne (Toby Wallace).—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
In Albany, Jeffries was part of a group of young Black and Latino lawmakers from New York City who played pickup basketball together and plotted legislative strategy over beers at a Bonefish Grill.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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But soon the 50-year-old character actor will be joining the DCU and plotting to conquer and collect the world as Brainiac, the villain of James Gunn’s Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
There’s a lot of ways to negotiate.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2026
-
While Pritzker and state lawmakers have been negotiating on legislation to provide the Bears with property tax breaks for a stadium in Arlington Heights, Johnson has continued to push to keep the Bears in Chicago.—
Elyssa Kaufman,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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And she’s spent a decade scaling her brand into an industry disrupter; Ellsworth began concocting prebiotic drinks in 2015, founding her business just one year later.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
Cocktails are concocted by in-house mixologist, Waguinho, who also invites guests from the local mixology community to arrange tastings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Fans are already scheming how this might happen — whether Kahan releases a deluxe version of The Great Divide and Bridgers appears, or something else entirely.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2026
-
One word came up repeatedly in a federal courtroom in Kansas City, Kansas, on Wednesday as the government laid out its case in the racketeering conspiracy trial of former Boilermakers executives accused of scheming to steal $20 million in union funds.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Soon, survey crews showed up, bulldozers were spotted along dusty roads, and the Army Corps of Engineers arranged private meetings.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
The spa There’s no spa, but morning yoga and pilates classes are hosted on the rooftop and the hotel can help arrange in-room massage treatments.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Grogu is a dud non-character invented only for marketing memes and laptop stickers.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
-
With a consistent style that was innate, not invented, Herman inspired many Ron Herman shoppers with their own fashion choices.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Now, he's pardoned all of these people, despite the fact that they were convicted of violently assaulting police officers, conspiring to overthrow the government of the United States in seditious conspiracy, and so on.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
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He was expected to appear in a New York federal courtroom on Friday on six terrorism charges, including six terrorism charges in New York, including conspiring to provide material support to terrorist groups.—
Louis Casiano , Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrive. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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