1
as in to devise
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
contrived abstract metal sculptures using old household utensils
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
the mischievous boys were always contriving and trying to pull the prank that would be the talk of the school
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to negotiate
to plan out usually with subtle skill or care
contrived a way of planning the surprise party without their catching on to it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrive
New quarterback Anthony Colandrea brings a degree of swag that is not contrived.
—
Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The entire deal felt cheesy and contrived.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
The ice bucket set-up for their initial confrontation felt contrived and Vida and Dodie’s dramatic actions involving their hotel room door felt out of character.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Prosecutors with the First Judicial District Attorney's Office claim Heskett contrived a story that he had been attacked by a man near a trail in the state park.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrive
Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The entire deal felt cheesy and contrived.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
The ice bucket set-up for their initial confrontation felt contrived and Vida and Dodie’s dramatic actions involving their hotel room door felt out of character.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Prosecutors with the First Judicial District Attorney's Office claim Heskett contrived a story that he had been attacked by a man near a trail in the state park.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrive
Verb
-
The commonly mistaken base assumption is that the greatest minds that have devised AI and consumed so much money doing so must certainly know every iota of how AI works.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Building on a concept devised by the director and producer Pierre-Henri Léon, Santiago Otheguy’s script plays fast and loose with Bizet’s opera and the Prosper Mérimée novella that inspired it — to the point of inventing an entirely new protagonist.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
31 May 2026
Verb
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In 2025, Vallow Daybell was handed two more consecutive life sentences after being convicted in Arizona for earlier plotting to kill her fourth husband and attempting to murder her niece's ex-husband.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
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In the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft, this same horsepower captivated the Minnesota Vikings, who plotted when and where to select him.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The decision to close the location comes after negotiating for months upon the urging of the city of Dallas and local leaders to work out an arrangement for how the store could keep operating.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
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But Qatar appears to be more flexible, with a top official saying on Sunday that the country would be willing to negotiate on fees collected for mine clearance or other short-term activities.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Lukehart dumped Gabrielle's body in a local pond and concocted a story to trick police, court records show.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
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With the trend away from toxic chemical control of plant pests and diseases, treatment formulas concocted from benign household products are on the rise.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Detective John Bolden, 47, a 20-year NYPD veteran who retired from the force in October, schemed to fleece the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which offered loans to small businesses forced to close or at risk of closing during the COVID pandemic.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2026
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Lesley Manville plays the scheming Marquise de Merteuil.—
Anna Russell,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Police in Las Vegas arranged for him to be arrested and then extradited to California, Clark said.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
Nearby, the Rum Vault is a small room stashed with bottles and bottles of the spirit, arranged like a library according to the producing region.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
Verb
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And while Louis and Molloy are mostly absent from the source material, Jones and the writers’ room invented new story lines for them, sometimes repurposing plot points from future Vampire Chronicles entries.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
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Leach helped invent the pass-happy system with Hal Mumme and then perfected it.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Perhaps that’s why Irish actor Colm Meaney has been called in to play the proprietor of a convenience store who, in short order, conspires to get Cameron a job alongside Tova, asks Tova out on a date, and is forever giving away coffee and other goods.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2026
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Something should have conspired against Sánchez.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrive. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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