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
Her recent fiction can seem more contrived.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
The others are just underwritten pawns in a contrived mystery.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Cheney consistently pushed that intelligence, which was later proven to be faulty and at times politically contrived.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
The Prince of Pennsylvania is a thoroughly contrived and mediocre comedy, featuring Reeves with an incredibly unfortunate haircut.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
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Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
The others are just underwritten pawns in a contrived mystery.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Cheney consistently pushed that intelligence, which was later proven to be faulty and at times politically contrived.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
The Prince of Pennsylvania is a thoroughly contrived and mediocre comedy, featuring Reeves with an incredibly unfortunate haircut.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 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 27 Nov. 2025.
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