contrived

adjective

con·​trived kən-ˈtrīvd 

: having an unnatural or false appearance or quality : artificial, labored

a contrived plot

Synonyms of contrived

• strained
• mock
• unnatural
• false
• exaggerated
• fake
• simulated
• artificial
• mechanical
• affected
• forced

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

More problematic is Helaena’s suicide, which feels more contrived here. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Creighton jokes, explaining that making the film accessible to people is far more interesting to her than some sort of contrived celebrity impact campaign. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026

The most contrived shift, however, is this season’s sudden distance from the men’s team. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026

The look manages to be on trend without being too contrived. — Selene Oliva, Glamour, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of contrive

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for contrived

• archived
• arrived
• connived
• deprived
• derived
• revived
• survived
• dived
• lived
• rived
• strived
• thrived