contrive

verb con·trive \ kən-ˈtrīv \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Examples: contrive in a Sentence

Definition of contrive

contrived; contriving

transitive verb

1 a : devise, plan

contrive ways of handling the situation

The prisoners contrived a way to escape.

b : to form or create in an artistic or ingenious manner

contrived household utensils from stone

Native Americans contrived weapons out of stone, wood, and bone.

2 : to bring about by stratagem or with difficulty : manage

he contrived to win their support

intransitive verb

: to make schemes

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contriver

noun

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Examples of contrive in a Sentence

The prisoners contrived a way to escape.
He contrived a meeting with the president.

Recent Examples of contrive from the Web

The problem is, it's felt contrived every single time it gets brought up.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "'Southern Charm New Orleans' Episode 7: Or, the one in which Tamica Lee gets served," 29 May 2018
Though the movie's way too contrived, director Daniel Gill and screenwriter Philip Gawthorne (adapting their own 2009 short) clearly understand the milieu of young British music buffs, growing up and growing apart.

— noel murray, latimes.com, "The contrived but poignant 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' will appeal to music buffs," 26 Apr. 2018
Greedy club owners and complaisant sportswriters contrived a persona for him as a mash-up of Li’l Abner and Paul Bunyan, a devoted family man and humble Hall of Famer.

— edward kosner, WSJ, "‘A Season in the Sun’ Review: Those Weren’t the Days," 12 Apr. 2018
In a novel as contrived and uneven as this one, the human touches go a long way.

— dwight garner, New York Times, "A Pulpy New Novel and Juiceless Old Essays From Mario Vargas Llosa," 19 Feb. 2018
In other words, the Knicks are finally free to delve deep into their rebuilding process, though one not too contrived, like that of the Philadelphia 76ers, who happen to be Thursday night’s opponent at the Garden.

— harvey araton, New York Times, "Lose Now, Win Later? In Sixers, Knicks Have a Role Model," 14 Mar. 2018
Hurlbert's use of masks and Mardi Gras to express the themes of disguise and deception does not come across as contrived.

— doug maccash, NOLA.com, "What are the 3 coolest spots on Conde Nast Traveler's New Orleans list?," 21 Mar. 2018
In reality, love is a little less contrived, (hopefully) more real, but every bit as exciting.

— charlotte andersen, Redbook, "19 People Reveal the Exact Moment When They Knew They Were In Love," 23 May 2017
Clashes have proved Trump to be just as unsteady internationally as domestically With Trump, the question has long been how much of his controversial and wild behavior is deliberate and how much is contrived — even strategic.

— aaron blake, Washington Post, "Here’s what we know about Trump the diplomat ahead of his Kim Jong Un meeting," 9 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contrive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of contrive

Middle English controven, contreven, from Anglo-French controver, contrever, from Medieval Latin contropare to compare, from Latin com- + Vulgar Latin *tropare to compose, find — more at troubadour

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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