1
as in to ignore
to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful
the principal connived at all the school absences that were recorded on the day of the city's celebration of its Super Bowl victory
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
suspects that his coworkers are conniving to get him fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of connive
As such, the match feels very close and though the Undertaker emerges as the victor, Edge’s conniving personality is the real star of the match.
—
Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Jokic wasn’t the conniving villain implied by his pregame wardrobe.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 May 2025
Lively and Kendrick reprised their roles of Emily Nelson, a conniving fashion PR executive, and Stephanie Smothers, a single mother with a cooking and crafting vlog, respectively, in the follow-up to the box office hit that is now streaming on Prime Video.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 3 May 2025
Other passengers on the train include blue-collar worker Sang-hwa (Ma Dong-seok) and his pregnant wife Seong-kyeong (Jung Yu-mi), a high-school baseball team, and the conniving businessman, Yon-suk (Kim Eui-sung) whose selfishness leads to all sorts of terrible twists down the line.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for connive
Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
Jokic wasn’t the conniving villain implied by his pregame wardrobe.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 May 2025
Lively and Kendrick reprised their roles of Emily Nelson, a conniving fashion PR executive, and Stephanie Smothers, a single mother with a cooking and crafting vlog, respectively, in the follow-up to the box office hit that is now streaming on Prime Video.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 3 May 2025
Other passengers on the train include blue-collar worker Sang-hwa (Ma Dong-seok) and his pregnant wife Seong-kyeong (Jung Yu-mi), a high-school baseball team, and the conniving businessman, Yon-suk (Kim Eui-sung) whose selfishness leads to all sorts of terrible twists down the line.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for connive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for connive
Verb
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Those who depend on freewheeling and shoot-from-the-hip strategies and tactics to address a crisis are ignoring or disregarding fundamental crisis management best practices that favor a calm, deliberate, and thoughtful approach.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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While Paladino’s nonsense was rightfully ignored, a letter from a member of the House majority to the AG may not be ignored, especially this AG, especially under this president.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Earlier this week, police arrested several people accused of plotting to overthrow the government and banned entry into the country, without explanation, for several people from Croatia and a theater director from Montenegro.—
Jovana Gec,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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The dark comedy films, which also star Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis, follow friends who plot to murder their abusive bosses.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
28 June 2025
Verb
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The view from the window looked like the backdrop of a talk show—a jumble of tall buildings with thousands of lit windows, some of them winking.—
David Sedaris,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
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In the meantime, Claude scrutinized the room, alternately winking and scowling at the residents and care workers within eyeshot before diligently watching the door.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
18 June 2025
Verb
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The finale's final moments bring viewers back to the Buckley fish house, where Belle finds scheming developer Wes Benson (Dave Annable) tied up and beaten to a pulp by Emmett.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
29 June 2025
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Linda Sun, the former aide to Gov. Hochul and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused of working as a Chinese agent, also schemed to steer $35 million in state contracts to two PPE vendors run by a cousin and her husband at the height of the COVID pandemic, according to new court filings.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Connive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/connive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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