1
as in to ignore
to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful
the principal connived at all the school absences that were recorded on the day of the city's celebration of its Super Bowl victory
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2
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
suspects that his coworkers are conniving to get him fired
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of connive
Trachtenberg aces Georgina as a conniving young woman who thrives off of drama and never lets anyone see her sweat.
—
Angela Andaloro, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
Lar Park Lincoln, who is remembered as the conniving Linda Fairgate on CBS’ Knots Landing, died from undisclosed causes on April 22.
—Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
As such, the match feels very close and though the Undertaker emerges as the victor, Edge’s conniving personality is the real star of the match.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Jokic wasn’t the conniving villain implied by his pregame wardrobe.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for connive
Angela Andaloro, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
Lar Park Lincoln, who is remembered as the conniving Linda Fairgate on CBS’ Knots Landing, died from undisclosed causes on April 22.
—Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
As such, the match feels very close and though the Undertaker emerges as the victor, Edge’s conniving personality is the real star of the match.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Jokic wasn’t the conniving villain implied by his pregame wardrobe.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for connive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for connive
Verb
-
Too many times last year the line would just ignore somebody running right at them.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
Remember, ignoring these signals can lead to heat exhaustion or life-threatening heat stroke.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
These tariff rates range between 25% and 50%, with the highest tariff reserved for Brazil, where Trump has objected to the prosecution of the country’s former, right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly plotting a coup.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
14 July 2025
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While Barry was making its way toward Texas, the White House was plotting destruction of its own.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
12 July 2025
Verb
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The view from the window looked like the backdrop of a talk show—a jumble of tall buildings with thousands of lit windows, some of them winking.—
David Sedaris,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
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In the meantime, Claude scrutinized the room, alternately winking and scowling at the residents and care workers within eyeshot before diligently watching the door.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
The Giants will need to scheme Lawrence to keep four hands off him.—
Geoffrey Knox,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
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And the audience was eager to be swept away on another escapade with these stylish and scheming women.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Connive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/connive. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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