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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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
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Too many times last year the line would just ignore somebody running right at them.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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The conversation has put a spotlight on a dynamic that’s hard to ignore: how global leaders, especially from Western nations, talk about and to Africa.—
Oumou Fofana,
Essence,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Earlier this week, police arrested several people accused of plotting to overthrow the government and banned entry into the country, without explanation, for several people from Croatia and a theater director from Montenegro.—
Jovana Gec,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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The dark comedy films, which also star Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis, follow friends who plot to murder their abusive bosses.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
28 June 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
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The finale's final moments bring viewers back to the Buckley fish house, where Belle finds scheming developer Wes Benson (Dave Annable) tied up and beaten to a pulp by Emmett.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
29 June 2025
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Linda Sun, the former aide to Gov. Hochul and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused of working as a Chinese agent, also schemed to steer $35 million in state contracts to two PPE vendors run by a cousin and her husband at the height of the COVID pandemic, according to new court filings.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Connive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/connive. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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