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
To add to the list of coincidences and contrivances, Danny’s sister Harper (Jessy Yates), is also an emergency medicine resident working through the storm.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
But contrivances now become necessary to keep some of the new supporting figures in play in a story like this.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
It should be replaced with a sprawling, soulless contrivance.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025
At one level, the film offers a comic commentary on the repetition of certain dramatic contrivances down the years.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Judy Berman, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
But contrivances now become necessary to keep some of the new supporting figures in play in a story like this.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
It should be replaced with a sprawling, soulless contrivance.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025
At one level, the film offers a comic commentary on the repetition of certain dramatic contrivances down the years.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrivance
Noun
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Best Buy: There’s no shortage of tech deals to be found at Best Buy, where hundreds of laptops, appliances, headphones, and more gadgets are currently on sale — including this 98-inch Smart TV that’s $1,200 off.—
Averi Baudler,
People.com,
24 June 2025
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Now, thanks to the development of GaN technology, a power supply can be small enough to fit in a coat pocket and have enough outlets and muscle to power the most demanding laptops and gadgets.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Noun
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The invention of railway travel also necessitated the establishment of a unified time zone, which was provided by the Royal Observatory and adopted by the railway companies.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
22 June 2025
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When the disaster response price tag over the last half century is approaching 10% of the national debt, necessity should motivate invention of proactive infrastructure that reduces this cost.—
John Sabo,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Noun
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By doing it for them, AI robs children of the joy and the work of their imagination.—
Lindsey Witmer Collins,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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An unusual mix of speculative sci-fi imagination and intimate family sentiment, the film is vying for top honors in the Shanghai International Film Festival‘s main competition this week.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Human smugglers, often linked to drug cartels, have used tunnels, ladders and power tools to cross walls.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
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On top of that, with a variety of third-party tools available on the market, business owners can also have their pick, according to RMIT Vietnam’s Parida.—
Bernice Ooi,
CNBC,
26 June 2025
Noun
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At first glance, the law does not criminalize innovation.—
Chris Groshong,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
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But the Ryder board, about a decade ago, wanted CEO Robert Sanchez to focus on innovation and how to lead the company beyond the core strategy and services that had sustained it for decades.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
19 June 2025
Noun
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No one has seen the seventh kind, the fearsome Night Fury, until Hiccup manages to knock one out of the sky with a homemade bola contraption.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
9 June 2025
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The robot contraption all hooks up to a motor that Williams controls from a nearby desk.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
Noun
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One key element of its data-first approach is its Trends Observatory, which analyzes global trends to help the design decision-making process and to align creativity with market gaps to create a strong and relevant product.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
20 June 2025
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The company’s evolution has included new principals and new pens, such as the Hitchcock Vertigo, that are an homage to the broader context of creativity.—
Nancy Olson,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrivance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrivance. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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