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
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Is there another book at once so good and so bad, so thrilling and so boring, so authentic to the currents of the soul and so hideously contrived, so stunningly patrolled by dreamlike visions and so crushed by its own intellectual baggage?
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Themes flow into the story from the Playhouse’s program in ways that don’t seem forced or contrived.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Adjective
Ultimately, Crime 101 feels too contrived and artificial to be convincing.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Is there another book at once so good and so bad, so thrilling and so boring, so authentic to the currents of the soul and so hideously contrived, so stunningly patrolled by dreamlike visions and so crushed by its own intellectual baggage?
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Someone’s phone is always vibrating, a gimmick that often strikes me as contrived in a movie-movie but feels totally normalized in a reality-movie like The Moment.
—Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Themes flow into the story from the Playhouse’s program in ways that don’t seem forced or contrived.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrived
Adjective
-
With Powell missing his third straight game because of a strained right groin, the Heat went with the starting lineup of Davion Mitchell, Herro, Pelle Larsson, Andrew Wiggins and Adebayo for the third consecutive game.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The White House pledge for tech companies responds to fears of what data center buildouts mean for everyday Americans’ strained wallets.—
Eric Schmidt,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Arias and her mother concocted the treat to resemble a large pink cupcake with sprinkles.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Since the advent of TV and radio, public figures have concocted deliberate soundbites to stick out and persuade the public.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage Authorities say the teen carefully plotted the shooting at his Barrow County high school, including allegedly leaving a notebook with handwritten instructions detailing the steps to prepare for the violence and a diagram of his classroom.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Read retrieved Hunter and brought her back to Sacramento where the pair plotted the near-fatal attack.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
San Diego and its world-famous zoo have negotiated a 52-year extension of their lease that includes a new $3 million annual payment to the city and an equal split of parking revenue.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The deal was negotiated by Simon Gillis and Laura Mazzola, Head of Business & Legal Affairs (UK), on behalf of See-Saw and Sheila David of Catapult Rights Limited on behalf of Dr Grant.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The video was a standout moment alongside the romantic ballad, though, as Bruno picked up the guitar and delivered on the Latin love story with a mock wedding — and pulled on the heartstrings with a relationship that just about everyone would sign up to grow old for.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The Wildcats feature potential first-round picks in freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, with Motiejus Krivas mentioned in some mock drafts.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Conrad and Dial showed still images to the others at the jail, and devised a plan of capture should the man return.—
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Still, scientists have devised clever ways to investigate how sleep and dreams can affect us.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Easter changes date every year, and the blooms on sale are carefully manipulated to bloom on time.—
Becky Wern,
Florida Times-Union,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In the lab setting, various atmospheric variables can be precisely manipulated to closely understand the phenomenon.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What people fail to realize, Harding said, is that the office is an investigative body that plays a role in uncovering the cause of unnatural deaths and also protecting the public.—
Shannon Tyler
March 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The film is fiercely feminist, a little punk, more than a bit surreal, leaning much heavier on absurdist romance than horror and, ultimately, an unnatural force of nature.—
Mark Meszoros,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrived. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
