1
as in devising
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
contrived abstract metal sculptures using old household utensils
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2
as in plotting
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
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3
as in negotiating
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contriving
Verb
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For 39 years, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has required redistricting institutions to consider racial and ethnic minority representation when devising congressional districts.—
Sam D. Hayes,
The Conversation,
13 Oct. 2025 -
The problem in devising such a tax is defining what constitutes a robot.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Casanovas and Benlloch are plotting a continued, healthy expansion.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
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The White House is plotting further cuts, Reuters reported.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Appeasing and negotiating with Putin has failed for decades.—
Kathleen Collins,
Twin Cities,
26 Oct. 2025
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The firm’s work with multinational corporations seeking licenses and permits before government agencies (such as energy companies requesting development permits or investment companies negotiating with the Securities and Exchange Commission), or even litigating in federal court, could evaporate.—
Fabio Bertoni,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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China has also been concocting a pretext for action.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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But in the late 1800s, food companies began concocting products that were wildly different from anything people could make themselves.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Victoria Goodwin was sentenced to prison in May for arranging the plot with a Florida inmate.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
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Plans collided, and soon Murray was arranging team meals in LA for the team’s veterans, newcomers and rookies to intermingle.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Microsoft is constructing a solar power plant in Portage County to put 250-megawatts back into the grid.—
Ricardo Torres,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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That estimate also doesn't include the cost of constructing a new facility in Houston to serve as the space shuttle's new home.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Rozier’s arrest was tied to allegations of manipulating in-game statistics to benefit betting operations, while Billups was accused of participating in illicit poker events connected to the criminal network.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Oct. 2025
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The craft involves manipulating color to create a specific mood, visual style or narrative theme and is widely-used across film, TV and music.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But truths go ignored, the film argues, when everyone prefers inventing realities for themselves.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
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By then, the preeminent fashion genius of the third quarter of the 20th century and the designer so often credited with inventing the modern woman’s wardrobe had handed prêt-à-porter over to his assistants, who clung as if by commandment to the house dogma of bourgeois Parisian elegance.—
Rob Haskell,
Vogue,
20 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Contriving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contriving. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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