1
as in gadget
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use
a new contrivance for cleaning computer keyboards
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of contrivance
The otherwise puzzling choice to film her monologuing about Mormonism while driving feels like a contrivance to extract her from the luxurious interiors that are Bravolebrities’ natural habitat.
—
Judy Berman, Time, 12 Nov. 2025
These contrivances became so well known that, in 2009, the All-American Rejects guitarist Nick Wheeler spent much of his appearance mocking them.
—Kim Hew-Low, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Even the country’s name was a contrivance, borrowed from an empire that had flourished a thousand years earlier and hundreds of miles away, in what is now Mauritania and Mali.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Stories like these usually lurch from one contrivance and complication to the next, but Chad Powers knots itself into a genuinely thorny conflict by the finale.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Judy Berman, Time, 12 Nov. 2025
These contrivances became so well known that, in 2009, the All-American Rejects guitarist Nick Wheeler spent much of his appearance mocking them.
—Kim Hew-Low, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Even the country’s name was a contrivance, borrowed from an empire that had flourished a thousand years earlier and hundreds of miles away, in what is now Mauritania and Mali.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Stories like these usually lurch from one contrivance and complication to the next, but Chad Powers knots itself into a genuinely thorny conflict by the finale.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrivance
Noun
-
Among the machines in my regular rotation are a single-pint gadget and a 2-quart canister model (that’s the kind with the frozen bowl).—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The little shop’s name comes from the quartermaster character, Q, who provides the gadgets and, more to the point, Aston Martin cars for James Bond in the famous movies.—
Peter Valdes-Dapena,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Visionary Award recognizes an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of VFX to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The printing press, clocks, muskets — all these inventions changed humankind forever.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For their part, many voters always seem to be searching for some idealized candidate who exists only in their imagination.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Visionary Award recognizes an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of VFX to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Microsoft unveiled a new category of PC that features generative artificial intelligence tools built into Windows, the company's world-leading operating system.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
-
When selecting a specific use case to pursue, Pantone considered the struggles its customers had previously brought to the company’s attention and surveyed other tools on the market for designers and creatives.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Anthony Scott is the global product and innovation director at Havwoods, a wood flooring company based in Britain.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
-
As scrutiny shifts from AI ambition to AI execution, CFOs may find that governance—not innovation—becomes the real test.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That was a whole interesting contraption.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
-
One loose bolt or misplaced screw is enough to grind the entire contraption to a halt.—
Robert Mays,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Because of the skills that neurodiverse individuals can bring to the workplace — hyperfocus, creativity, empathy and niche expertise, just to name a few — some research suggests that organizations prioritizing inclusivity in this space generate nearly one-fifth higher revenue.—
Rachel Curry,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Recent scientific studies have found that horticultural therapy promotes creativity, self-esteem, social interaction and sensory stimulation.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrivance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrivance. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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