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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrived
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2025
Even if parts of the individual storylines still come across as contrived or at least dramatically convenient, the ending reminds and underlines that these things, and things far worse, happened in Israel on October 7, 2023.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Timeka Tounsel, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
None more so than how Conor Coady and Arthur Okonkwo contrived to gift Burrell the third goal from what was effectively an aimless long punt forward.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Adjective
Even if your beat wasn’t geopolitics or the economic structure behind deep-sea tourism, you were supposed to drop everything and help perpetuate the flood, or find a way to work it into your coverage, however contrived.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2025
Even if parts of the individual storylines still come across as contrived or at least dramatically convenient, the ending reminds and underlines that these things, and things far worse, happened in Israel on October 7, 2023.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
Many legends who were part of the WNBA’s early years—the league debuted in 1997—have shared stories about how the fledgling brand stuffed star players into narrow feminine molds that sometimes felt contrived.
—Timeka Tounsel, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
None more so than how Conor Coady and Arthur Okonkwo contrived to gift Burrell the third goal from what was effectively an aimless long punt forward.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrived
Adjective
-
Rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford has been upgraded to questionable after missing the past four games with a strained right hamstring.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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Father Mother Sister Brother tells the story of estranged siblings who reunite after years apart and are forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even so, del Toro has not merely concocted another Whale of a tale.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
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Each district sends two children as tributes to the fight-to-the-death Hunger Games, concocted by the capitol to keep the populace distracted.—
Adam Bell,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, Austrian Nazis plotted a coup, plans for which were uncovered in a raid on their headquarters on January 25.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Satoru Gojo, the strongest jujutsu sorcerer, arrived to address the chaos, but curse users and spirits plotted to seal him away.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Samuel Zimmerman negotiated the acquisition for Independent Film Company and Shudder, while Blue Finch Films represented the filmmakers.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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The deal was negotiated by CEO Andre Relis and COO Jessica Russo of VMI and Chee Keong Cheung on behalf of Action Xtreme.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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What really makes the dress stand out is its chic details, which includes a structured seam around the waist, gold-tone decorative buttons, and a mock neckline.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
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The eye-rolling, groaning, mock-despair brings the group together.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Riffmade founders Stephanie Betesh and Nicholas Steigmann devised a whole line of furnishings with this idea in mind, starting with a desk that can be covered up when the work day is over.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
30 Oct. 2025
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The British military historian John Keegan revealed the hazards of this kind of planning in his anatomy of the Schlieffen Plan, the German strategy for fighting a two-front continental war that was devised, in 1905, by the chief of the army’s general staff, Alfred von Schlieffen.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Even among some voters who were sincerely uncomfortable with Mamdani’s past rhetoric, many rationalized that an authentic Democrat with a pulse was still better than someone who might be manipulated from afar.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
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Experts said those markets are at risk of being manipulated by foreign influence.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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For thousands of years, men in power have been responsible for catastrophe after genocide after unnatural disaster.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
5 Nov. 2025
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Scrutinize fine details like hair, fur, or repetitive patterns that may appear unnatural, and inspect for illogical lighting, shadows, or odd background elements.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrived. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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