as in strained
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
the contrived applause of a TV studio audience that has been told when to clap
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in concocted
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
contrived abstract metal sculptures using old household utensils
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in plotted
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 negotiated
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
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 contrived
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
Some update accounts have started to post photoshopped emails that fabricate invitations to an anniversary collaboration with Spotify and Apple Music in a contrived effort to drive up streams on her latest album, Something Beautiful.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2025
Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Sure, much of the drama and plot feels contrived, but that’s true for many reality-show first seasons.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Adjective
Aside from Murphy and Davidson, Palmer does exactly what is expected from her, and Longoria also survives with dignity intact after being handed a contrived role that no actor could make credible; give her an ‘A ‘ for effort.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
Some update accounts have started to post photoshopped emails that fabricate invitations to an anniversary collaboration with Spotify and Apple Music in a contrived effort to drive up streams on her latest album, Something Beautiful.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2025
Verb
His perpetual ease — spontaneous and never contrived — has always held a deep fascination for me and for my creativity.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Sure, much of the drama and plot feels contrived, but that’s true for many reality-show first seasons.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrived
Adjective
-
Though the former couple remained close in the years after their separation, their relationship allegedly became strained when Simon stopped paying for their children’s school and medical fees following a change on his tax return.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In contrast to Bella’s strained relationship with Coverley, her bond with her father was effortless.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To solve this problem, materials scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have concocted a new sunscreen recipe that spares the ocean’s vital microorganisms.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
4 Sep. 2025
-
On paper, Dallas has the tools to do just that, but NBA insider Zach Buckley, of Bleacher Report, has concocted a trade proposal that sees the Mavericks strengthen their forward position.—
Ricardo Klein,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
For one, Leonard signed a max contract—unlike with Smith and the Timberwolves, there’s no claim Leonard and the Clippers plotted a scheme where he’d be paid less in the short term in exchange for being paid more later.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
This was a far cry from a year ago, when Muchová and Osaka played each other in the second round and Muchová plotted Osaka’s movements around the court for her, opening up space, then using her touch to drop the ball into it.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The deal was negotiated between Signature Entertainment’s Acquisitions Executive Max Hart and Kinology’s CEO Grégoire Melin.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Participation alone seems to be the end goal, the assemblage of a cacophony of voices without any avenues to interrogate the way power is shared or negotiated in collective spaces.—
Kate Wagner,
Curbed,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The conversations, of course, were mock for journalistic purposes.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The piping adds an athletic flair to the mock-neck sweater and sweatpant set, and small slits on the front of the hems add extra interest.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ken Goldberg, a University of California, Berkeley professor, devised a novel solution to bridge this gap.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Einstein’s theory of relativity is one of the most mind-bending theories ever devised.—
Don Lincoln,
Big Think,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In the area there are multiple objects that can be manipulated to cause a distraction — a feature that will be very familiar to fans of the IO Interactive’s Hitman series.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
-
But all of it had been manipulated.—
Felipe Schrieberg,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Stories abound in folklore of the unnatural taking the place of the natural.—
Adam Verner
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Changing these molecules would create an unnatural mirror image of a cell, as different as your right hand from your left.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrived. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share