Synonyms of contriving

contriving

verb

present participle of contrive

1

as in devising

to create or think of by clever use of the imagination

contrived abstract metal sculptures using old household utensils

Synonyms & Similar Words

• devising
• concocting
• constructing
• inventing
• designing
• producing
• manufacturing
• thinking (up)
• cooking (up)
• fabricating
• hatching
• coming up with
• excogitating
• drumming up
• conceiving
• dreaming
• imagining
• making up
• envisioning
• trumping up
• coining
• visualizing
• vamping (up)
• fantasizing
• daydreaming
• improvising
• envisaging
• extemporizing
• visioning
• picturing
• ad-libbing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• imitating
• reproducing
• copying
• duplicating
• mimicking
• replicating
• cloning
• reduplicating
• copycatting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plotting
• scheming
• conspiring
• colluding
• planning
• intriguing
• conniving
• devising
• machinating
• concocting
• compassing
• designing
• manipulating
• hatching
• engineering
• maneuvering
• putting up
• jockeying
• cooking (up)
• brewing
• shaping
• counterplotting
• mapping
• framing
• laying out

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• negotiating
• plotting
• arranging
• manipulating
• engineering
• maneuvering
• managing
• framing
• masterminding
• wangling
• concluding
• machinating
• finessing
• finagling
• scheming
• concocting
• conducting
• compassing
• intriguing
• concerting
• conniving
• hatching
• directing
• working out
• hammering out
• handling
• brewing
• angling (for)
• cooking (up)
• commanding
• gerrymandering
• running
• quarterbacking
• captaining

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blowing
• fumbling
• bungling
• butchering
• mangling
• botching
• mishandling
• messing (up)
• gumming (up)
• muffing
• flubbing
• bobbling
• lousing up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contriving

That evolution has provided a playground for screenwriters contriving elaborate shocks. — Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

The simple average of these deliveries is skewed by the 2023 Ashes, where more bouncers were bowled than in any Test on record, with England contriving repeatedly to lose wickets to the ball dug in short. — Ben Jones aug. 26, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Even his courtship with Bess Wallace was accented by Truman contriving a tennis court for her — the dynamics of which are captured through photos of and letters about his efforts. — Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026

Director Ellenstein had the aha moment earlier this decade of contriving a work about Eisenhower and the accomplished playwright and Orange County native, Richard Hellesen, took on the task of writing it. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026

By eschewing salaries, lobbying Congress to gut the estate tax, and contriving elaborate writeoffs and work-arounds, the very rich have placed much of their wealth beyond the reach of the state. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025