contrive

play

verb con·trive \kən-ˈtrīv\

Definition of contrive

contrived

;

contriving

transitive verb
1a : 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

contriver

noun

See contrive defined for English-language learners

See contrive defined for kids

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

To cut this dynamic short, Republicans have contrived the conceit that the choice facing their party isn’t between fixing Obamacare and replacing it, but between replacing Obamacare and allowing single payer—

— brian beutler, New Republic, "Bernie Sanders and the Progressive Left’s Selfless Defense of Obamacare", 3 July 2017
By taking a mixed versus matching approach to light and classic denim washes, Hadid kept the effect from feeling contrived.

— maria ward, Vogue, "Put Down the Cutoffs—Bella Hadid Has the Chicer Alternative, Just In Time for Summer", 21 June 2017
City officials have contrived to make repaying the loan hurt as little as possible.

— lauren ritchie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Clermont borrowing $30 million for huge spruce-up", 20 June 2017
It’s also easy to dismiss this as an orchestrated, perhaps even contrived, effort to alter an image.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity.com, "Vahe Gregorian: Tin-eared Roger Goodell shows another side by listening", 16 June 2017
The deliveryman would contrive a reason to sit down and put the pizza on his lap — and open the top to reveal his own tumescent penis, popping up through a hole cut in the pizza.

— maureen o’connor, The Cut, "Pornhub Is the Kinsey Report of Our Time", 11 June 2017
But when the songs stop coming, it would be so contrived to try and force it.

— chrissie dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Four Voices is a quartet of greats: Joan Baez, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Amy Ray, Emily Saliers", 8 June 2017
While both are played by capable, if not somewhat bland, actors, their love story feels contrived and underdeveloped.

— joey morona, cleveland.com, "'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' brings back what you loved about the franchise, mostly", 24 May 2017
Other events are less successfully contrived in service of a political point.

— laura collins-hughes, New York Times, "Review: Small Mistakes With Big Consequences in ‘The World My Mama Raised’", 24 May 2017

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

See Words from the same year

CONTRIVE Defined for English Language Learners

contrive

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verb

Definition of contrive for English Language Learners

: to form or think of (a plan, method, etc.)
: to form or make (something) in a skillful or clever way
: to make (something) happen in a clever way or with difficulty

CONTRIVE Defined for Kids

contrive

play

verb con·trive \kən-ˈtrīv\

Definition of contrive for Students

contrived

;

contriving

1 : ²plan 1, plot We must contrive a way to escape.
2 : to form or make in some skillful or clever way He contrived a small pipe out of the piece of wood.
3 : to manage to bring about or do She contrived to get there on time.