1
as in gadget
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use
a new contrivance for cleaning computer keyboards
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2
as in invention
something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination
despite the many modern contrivances for saving time and labor, we seem to have less leisure and energy than ever before
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in imagination
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others
in that writer's hands, narrative contrivance can often deteriorate into pointless gimmickry
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrivance
The dialogue is overwrought, the plot contrivances are gratuitous, and the show has never been more fun.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
The script, also by Ahn, leans slightly too much on contrivances to nudge the relationship along.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Ponies is overly reliant on coincidences and characters making unlikely mistakes to keep the plot moving, and all that contrivance leads to some Swiss-cheese-like plotting in the season’s back half.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Jan. 2026
In another area of the factory, machines installed four years earlier already lack certain even-more-modern contrivances.
—Sacbee.com, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
The script, also by Ahn, leans slightly too much on contrivances to nudge the relationship along.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Ponies is overly reliant on coincidences and characters making unlikely mistakes to keep the plot moving, and all that contrivance leads to some Swiss-cheese-like plotting in the season’s back half.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Jan. 2026
In another area of the factory, machines installed four years earlier already lack certain even-more-modern contrivances.
—Sacbee.com, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrivance
Noun
-
The cordless cleaning gadget has powerful suction that cleans hardwood floors and carpets with ease.—
Madeline Merinuk,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
-
But while Batman tends to save lives with a plethora of gadgets and advanced combat techniques, the actor playing him wound up needing nothing more than the good old-fashioned Heimlich maneuver.—
Skyler Trepel,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Upgrade to watch the full report Survival is the mother of invention, under the orange glow of computer processor fans and subtle overhead lighting.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Domestic capabilities are the foundation American ingenuity was a genesis for AI, from the invention of the transistor to the development of the transformer, which enables large language models.—
Olivia White,
Time,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The ‘Big River’ captured Mark Twain’s imagination.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
-
And for venture capital, imagination may remain the most important signal of all.—
Anna Demeo,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
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And a health system’s ability to schedule surgeries is gated not just by the availability of doctors and nurses, but also by its ability to maintain a constant flow of clean, reusable medical tools to its operating rooms.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
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Josh Mattison, executive vice president of digital revenue pricing, planning and operations at Disney, who reports to Ferro, said in an interview that Ferro made a point to learn the ins and outs of the digital tools at Disney’s disposal.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Brown said momentum has endured as a strategy because investors tend to continue rewarding companies benefiting from innovation cycles and favorable industry shifts, creating trends that can last longer than many expect.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
-
Accelerating technological innovation Beyond software development, BYD is also investing heavily in the underlying hardware required for intelligent vehicles.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
There's also a palpable new seam of imaginativeness among residents.—
Toby Skinner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
These genius contraptions help remove moisture from the air and can make a big difference in cooling down the house.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
-
Eisler showed him how to position himself on a metal-and-wood contraption called a reformer.—
Natalie Meade,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
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For Pawela, the PB Arts Center partnership will serve as a resource for young, ambitious artists and allow for creativity to take root.—
Madison Beveridge,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
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For companies and individuals alike, the challenge isn’t just to keep pace, but to adapt with creativity and intention.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrivance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrivance. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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