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
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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
-
Packing this $12 gadget could also save you money on budget airlines that charge an arm and a leg for access to in-flight entertainment.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Apr. 2026
-
View gallery - 3 images Aside from being tough as nails, rugged gadgets typically prioritize long battery life, but increasingly, newer models have been adding in specialized tools for fieldwork.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The former is right up the alley of fans of supernatural thrillers, while the latter pulls back the curtain on the invention of reality TV.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The incident inspired the invention of the throat guard that became an essential piece of a catcher’s mask.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Romantic Venus sextiles dreamy Neptune, softening conversations and opening space for empathy, imagination, and meaningful exchange.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Ko’s conception of the wuxia genre centers on imagination as a martial force.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That would mark the first withdrawal under this tool since February 2025, according to Bloomberg calculations based on the operation plan released late on Friday.—
Bloomberg,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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Leavitt is still more a collection of tools than a finished product right now, but those tools have first-round upside, to be sure.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At first glance, AI companions for lonely seniors can seem dystopian, looking less like innovation than a bleak sign of social failure.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
-
In response, much of the conversation about education has focused on skills, knowledge, and innovation.—
Peter Folan,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There's also a palpable new seam of imaginativeness among residents.—
Toby Skinner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
When repeatedly tested on the magician's stovepipe chapeau, the contraption — which was intended to make the hat disappear — seemingly failed.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
-
There are a million and one videos of ag workers across Asia using the engines—often sourced from Yanmar and Kubota—to power wagons and irrigation pumps, among other contraptions.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Be honest about what’s workable, and let creativity thrive within boundaries.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
These details feel distinctly human, inviting curiosity, creativity, and connection.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrivance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrivance. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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