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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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Recent Examples of contriving
The profligacy, for sure, with Everton contriving to surrender a 1-0 lead in the space of eight remarkable second-half minutes in which defender Jake O’Brien was also sent off.
—
Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 11 Feb. 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
Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 11 Feb. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contriving
Verb
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Last week, the council voted to direct the city manager to study moving emergency operations, dispatch and the service call center out of City Hall while devising funding plans for repairing the building, staying there and relocating.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Mar. 2026
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While Green gave him instant advice, Kerr was devising ways to get Porzingis involved.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Once production had concluded on the first season, Ingelsby and Ruffalo felt there was still more to explore with his character and began plotting a second season arc.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2026
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There were no allegations in the complaint that Holmes was actually plotting any violence.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For example, negotiating a lump-sum settlement directly with the creditor or with the help of a debt settlement company can sometimes resolve a judgment for less than the full amount owed.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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In the filing, O’Connell accused Garza of secretly negotiating with city officials and withholding information that could help clear a police officer set to stand trial this summer — a claim that, if true, could represent a serious breach of prosecutorial ethics and potentially upend the case.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As Gyllenhaal begins concocting her third directorial feature, could Curtis be part of the picture?—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2026
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Gyllenhaal, who also wrote her film, has corrected the imbalance, refashioning the story from the Bride’s perspective and concocting a protagonist of unfiltered feminist fury.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Throughout the year, guests can partake in flower arranging workshops, cooking classes, tastings, and seminars at the Culinary Academy with Executive Chef Riccardo Bacciottini.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
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Madrazo also has great discernment in subtly arranging pictorial props, such as clothing, cards or flowers, that stage his winsome female figures to good effect.—
Benjamin Lima
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The company is spending about $200 billion on its domestic expansion, which includes constructing two chip-making factories at its headquarters campus in Southeast Boise, building up to four fabs in New York state, and modernizing its existing fab in Virginia.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
21 Mar. 2026
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Microsoft is constructing models for generating source code, images and audio, and for reasoning, which produces answers that people can find more thoughtful but requires more time, Suleyman said.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One of her alternate personalities — the cold and calculating Samantha — joins law enforcement to pursue her father’s killers, while other identities begin to surface with their own motives, seducing and manipulating powerful men as Sylvia’s search for justice veers into vengeance.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
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Adrian Maclean, 52, of Lisbon was arrested twice in connection with an embezzlement scheme police say involved manipulating records in the Hebron Tax Collector’s Office, according to Connecticut State Police.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What about inventing or discovering something that makes the world a better place?—
Mariel Carr,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
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Klapper says Learned Hand has extensive guardrails to prevent the AI from inventing precedents and making other major mistakes.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contriving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contriving. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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