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
The look manages to be on trend without being too contrived.
—Selene Oliva, Glamour, 12 June 2026
Whereas Heineman’s film used its incredible access to the central couple to capture moments that come across as beautifully and uncomfortably intimate and unstaged, Bergh (The Greatest Love Story Never Told) uses his access to make everything pretty and entirely too contrived.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Yet the hilarious quip is no contrived Hollywood punchline.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026
More perplexing is the contrived conflict between past and present players when former national teamers in the media criticize Christian Pulisic and a few other players for taking themselves out of consideration for the Gold Cup, the regional tournament held every two years.
—Beau Dure, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Selene Oliva, Glamour, 12 June 2026
Whereas Heineman’s film used its incredible access to the central couple to capture moments that come across as beautifully and uncomfortably intimate and unstaged, Bergh (The Greatest Love Story Never Told) uses his access to make everything pretty and entirely too contrived.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Yet the hilarious quip is no contrived Hollywood punchline.
—Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026
More perplexing is the contrived conflict between past and present players when former national teamers in the media criticize Christian Pulisic and a few other players for taking themselves out of consideration for the Gold Cup, the regional tournament held every two years.
—Beau Dure, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Cite this Entry
“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrived. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
