Synonyms of contrive

contrive

verb

kən-ˈtrīv 

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

• devise
• concoct
• invent
• construct
• design
• manufacture
• produce
• think (up)
• excogitate
• come up with
• fabricate
• cook (up)
• drum up
• conceive
• make up
• hatch
• trump up
• envision
• imagine
• visualize
• improvise
• envisage
• vamp (up)
• dream
• fantasize
• coin
• vision
• daydream
• extemporize
• ad-lib
• picture

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• imitate
• reproduce
• replicate
• mimic
• copy
• duplicate
• clone
• reduplicate
• copycat

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

• plot
• scheme
• conspire
• plan
• connive
• collude
• devise
• machinate
• intrigue
• concoct
• compass
• manipulate
• engineer
• put up
• hatch
• design
• counterplot
• maneuver
• cook (up)
• brew
• shape
• map
• jockey
• lay out
• frame

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

• negotiate
• arrange
• manipulate
• plot
• engineer
• manage
• maneuver
• conclude
• wangle
• machinate
• finagle
• frame
• finesse
• mastermind
• concoct
• scheme
• connive
• conduct
• concert
• work out
• hammer out
• intrigue
• handle
• hatch
• direct
• compass
• angle (for)
• brew
• cook (up)
• command
• run
• gerrymander
• captain
• quarterback

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• botch
• butcher
• blow
• bungle
• mangle
• gum (up)
• fumble
• mishandle
• mess (up)
• flub
• muff
• louse up
• bobble

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contrive

An ingenious means of admitting natural light has been contrived so that, during the daytime, parts of these wonderfully austere and stony subterranean cellars, which ought to be very dark indeed, remain softly radiant. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

Stranded in a no-man’s land where everybody deplores toxic masculinity but the guys still need to be given something to do, the film doesn’t manage to contrive any actual fun. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

The simple average of these deliveries is skewed by the 2023 Ashes, where more bouncers were bowled than in any Test on record, with England contriving repeatedly to lose wickets to the ball dug in short. — Ben Jones aug. 26, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Prosecutors say the former labor and delivery nurse planned the killings and contrived to get her husband out of the house by sending him to pick up medicine for one of their children and dinner for the family. — Michael Casey, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026