contrived
adjective
con·trived
kən-ˈtrīvd 
: having an unnatural or false appearance or quality : artificial, labored
a contrived plot
Examples of contrived in a Sentence
… it may remind readers of Christopher Nolan's ingeniously contrived mystery film "Memento" …
—
Joyce Carol Oates, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2005
The music industry has become far more image conscious and contrived since her first album affected me so profoundly …
—Lisa Marie Presley, Time, 18 Apr. 2005
There are some who scorn that sterling art form, the afternoon soap opera, alleging that its characters are unbelievable, its plots contrived and its action negligible.
—Lydel Sims, Assignment: Memphis, 1982
The movie's contrived ending was a big disappointment.
The results of the test seemed somewhat contrived.
Joyce Carol Oates, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2005
The music industry has become far more image conscious and contrived since her first album affected me so profoundly …
—Lisa Marie Presley, Time, 18 Apr. 2005
There are some who scorn that sterling art form, the afternoon soap opera, alleging that its characters are unbelievable, its plots contrived and its action negligible.
—Lydel Sims, Assignment: Memphis, 1982
The movie's contrived ending was a big disappointment.
The results of the test seemed somewhat contrived.
Recent Examples on the Web
Even if parts of the individual storylines still come across as contrived or at least dramatically convenient, the ending reminds and underlines that these things, and things far worse, happened in Israel on October 7, 2023.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Scheming currently appears to be mostly limited to contrived test scenarios.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
And its absurd moments feel far less contrived (and therefore, less cringey) than its contemporaries.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Sep. 2025
In luxury, these partnerships need to be much more subtle than contrived campaigns that crowbar the celebrity into every tweet and social post.
—Matteo Atti, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
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Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Scheming currently appears to be mostly limited to contrived test scenarios.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 18 Sep. 2025
And its absurd moments feel far less contrived (and therefore, less cringey) than its contemporaries.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Sep. 2025
In luxury, these partnerships need to be much more subtle than contrived campaigns that crowbar the celebrity into every tweet and social post.
—Matteo Atti, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Cite this Entry
“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrived. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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