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
Aside from Murphy and Davidson, Palmer does exactly what is expected from her, and Longoria also survives with dignity intact after being handed a contrived role that no actor could make credible; give her an ‘A ‘ for effort.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
Some update accounts have started to post photoshopped emails that fabricate invitations to an anniversary collaboration with Spotify and Apple Music in a contrived effort to drive up streams on her latest album, Something Beautiful.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2025
Building the Band putting so much faith in its contestants to determine their fate keeps it compelling from the jump — a welcome change of pace from the days of contrived band-building in the late ’90s and aughts.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 July 2025
Henry Golding plays a bookkeeper whose sole purpose is to set up the lore, but Discord’s threat always feels more contrived than inevitable.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
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Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
Some update accounts have started to post photoshopped emails that fabricate invitations to an anniversary collaboration with Spotify and Apple Music in a contrived effort to drive up streams on her latest album, Something Beautiful.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2025
Building the Band putting so much faith in its contestants to determine their fate keeps it compelling from the jump — a welcome change of pace from the days of contrived band-building in the late ’90s and aughts.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 July 2025
Henry Golding plays a bookkeeper whose sole purpose is to set up the lore, but Discord’s threat always feels more contrived than inevitable.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Cite this Entry
“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrived. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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