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
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Recent Examples of contrived
Patrice Poltzer, Contributor, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2025
Wear: Our critic explains how to style men’s white jeans without looking too contrived.
Boost: Can supplements do anything for your immune system?
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
That means going well beyond contrived jobs like flyball, obedience trials, and canine musical freestyle.
—Jessica Pierce, TIME, 15 Dec. 2024
But that is all quite contrived; pretending this was anything other than a worrying night for Kompany would be disingenuous.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Adjective
Her passion for her dogs and genuine stories are more effective than any contrived marketing strategy.
—Patrice Poltzer, Contributor, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2025
Wear: Our critic explains how to style men’s white jeans without looking too contrived.
Boost: Can supplements do anything for your immune system?
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
That means going well beyond contrived jobs like flyball, obedience trials, and canine musical freestyle.
—Jessica Pierce, TIME, 15 Dec. 2024
But that is all quite contrived; pretending this was anything other than a worrying night for Kompany would be disingenuous.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrived
Adjective
-
Overtourism is a serious concern, particularly for smaller ports, where large crowds can have a significant impact, leading to strained infrastructure and affecting local quality of life.—
Jessica Benavides Canepa,
AFAR Media,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Forbes reported that the relationship between Natalia and the Mans family became strained in 2023, the same year the couple officially adopted her.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The North America deal was negotiated between Rachel White, Vertical’s Manager of Acquisitions & Sales, and Daniel Diamond of Diamond Media, which is handling sales.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2025
-
The deal was negotiated between Signature Entertainment’s Acquisitions & Development Executive Max Hart and DeskPop Entertainment’s Executive Vice President Mat Levy.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Some mock drafts had the Steelers taking a running back like Omarion Hampton in the first round.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Lucky for us, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz dives right into that dicey proposition with his very, very early look at the players who could be prominent figures in mock drafts to come.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Before the Frazier and Foreman fight was devised, former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was stripped of the title.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Price controls don’t work, whether they’re devised domestically or imported from abroad.—
Sally Pipes,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In Season 4 of the Max comedy, Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels have manipulated their way into their respective dream jobs as host and head writer of a late-night talk show on network TV.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
-
This country is being manipulated by two people — and those too afraid to have the courage to oppose them.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
While headphones usually create an unnatural and exaggerated stereo field inside the listener’s head, with virtual acoustic spaces a more natural stereo field can be experienced through headphones.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Photos often have unnatural colors, with little detail upon close inspection.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
This reactor stands out because its sophisticated solar absorber is carefully engineered to retain as much heat as possible while reducing losses.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2025
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Given the sensitivity of the LiDAR to performance to temperature, Komatsu engineered specialized thermal management solutions to address a wide operating range (-50 °C - +65 °C).—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Last year’s 17-9 start proved to be a false spring, one that lulled fans into thinking Craig Counsell replacing David Ross was the real difference between an 83-win Cubs team and the postseason.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Environmental protection versus energy affordability is a false choice.—
Noah Ginsburg,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrived. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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