CONTRIVANCE Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

contrivance

noun

kən-ˈtrī-vən(t)s

Definition of contrivance

as in gadget

an interesting and often novel device with a practical use a new contrivance for cleaning computer keyboards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of contrivance One belief is that this is essentially a monopolistic contrivance. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 9 Mar. 2026 That was complemented by what was known as a Tony Gwynn SoloHitter contrivance, through which four chords connected to a baseball would reset the ball to its waist-high starting point after each thwacking during all hours of the day. — Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for contrivance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrivance

Noun

In terms of player archetype, Everhart could be considered a gadget-type player who can be used in the backfield, at slot and on special teams.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026
The gadget has a quick-warming ceramic plate that heats up within 6 seconds of pressing the button.

— Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of gadget

Noun

Decades of foundational chemistry and physics research throughout the 20th century led to inventions such as the MRI and the World Wide Web.

— Brendon Davis, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
Dated over 2,000 years ago, these manuscripts shatter claims that Jewish connection to the land is a modern invention, offering a factual foundation for peace and reconciliation.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of invention

Noun

Anna Watson’s lighting keeps much of the house just dim enough to make the imagination dangerous, while Tony winner Gareth Fry’s sound design surrounds the audience with ominous noises whose sources aren’t always immediately clear.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Still, the archetypal influencer in our cultural imagination is not a man reviewing watches on YouTube or hosting a podcast from his studio in Austin.

— Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of imagination

Noun

Tubes from hospital equipment were still attached to his face, gunshot wounds on his right side were still gaping, and tattoos which included a gun and a bullet casing were still embedded in his skin, a permanent memorial to the tools of his demise.

— Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Their choices were tools that understand their work and keep them in control.

— Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of tool

Noun

Still, experts cautioned that the artificial intelligence boom might generate investment and wealth without producing the broad hiring associated with previous waves of technological innovation.

— George Avalos, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
By the 1960s innovations in silk screen printing, a process of image transfer that has its origins in historic block printing from China and Japan, made slogan-spreading all the easier.

— Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of innovation

Noun

Today, Unitree’s pre-IPO investors are sitting on a windfall gain, although nobody really knows if there’s a commercial application for the gangly humanoid contraptions.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Video footage circulating on social media and photography by Reuters show visitors mounting the unusual contraption, a bizarre mash-up of a motorcycle and an oversized robot dog, and taking it for a spin.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of contraption

Noun

And it was viewed as a home for the kind of silly human creativity that, these days, is increasingly replaced in our feeds by AI slop.

— Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Early exposure to entrepreneurship, whether through education or the home environment, significantly boosts entrepreneurial intention while building the critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity that leadership requires in any field.

— Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of creativity

Browse Nearby Words

contrition

contrivance

contrivances

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Style

“Contrivance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrivance. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of contrivance

noun

Example Sentences

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