1
as in to devise
to create or think of by clever use of the imagination
contrived abstract metal sculptures using old household utensils
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plot
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 to negotiate
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 contrive
This time, specific references were stripped away, leaving only a distillation of the dark rage evoked by metal and punk, equal parts elemental and contrived.
—
Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Someone’s phone is always vibrating, a gimmick that often strikes me as contrived in a movie-movie but feels totally normalized in a reality-movie like The Moment.
—Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Themes flow into the story from the Playhouse’s program in ways that don’t seem forced or contrived.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Well, the first and third mucked up their stories with some overly contrived lore about cults and gods, and the fourth was an experiment for the formula that didn’t quite work.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrive
Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
Someone’s phone is always vibrating, a gimmick that often strikes me as contrived in a movie-movie but feels totally normalized in a reality-movie like The Moment.
—Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Themes flow into the story from the Playhouse’s program in ways that don’t seem forced or contrived.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Well, the first and third mucked up their stories with some overly contrived lore about cults and gods, and the fourth was an experiment for the formula that didn’t quite work.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contrive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrive
Verb
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Suno devised all the vocals, instrumentation, arrangements, production, mixing and mastering for all of Tempchin’s songs on both those albums.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
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The other bills would have the Legislative Analyst’s Office study how the plan aligns with the state budget (AB 2149), devise a dashboard to inform the public about progress (AB 2514) and empower a new commission to oversee the plan (AB 2202).—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This prompts James and Soames to plot Jo’s ousting from the company so Soames may assume the role of chairman.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2026
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Alexandre Dumas’s novel of identity and revenge gets a big-budget remake with Sam Claflin starring as Edmond Dantès, a sailor wrongly imprisoned in an island fortress who, after his escape and subsequent treasure finding, plots his vengeance.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Almost every Democrat who responded blamed Republicans for refusing to reopen most of DHS while continuing to negotiate on immigration enforcement funding.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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By the time fall approached, Kise and Bhirud, with Blanche’s blessing, were negotiating Ver’s extraordinary deal line by line.—
Avi Asher-Schapiro,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, scientists identified the virus, deciphered its secrets, concocted a vaccine, put it into production, and rendered the disease manageable – all within a year.—
David Blumenthal,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
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The Constitution’s glitterati, present at the creation, were unanimous in fearing the executive branch would concoct excuses for pointless wars to aggrandize power and crush unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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San Francisco jurors stopped short of finding the Texas billionaire intentionally schemed to defraud investors.—
Staff,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
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But the show instantly makes a rod for its own back by waiting until Episode 3 to turn its hero into the Count and get all the treasure-hunting, high society-infiltrating, and Machiavellian scheming underway.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The academy had been looking for a venue that offered greater control over how the show is staged, including how the audience is arranged and how the room is used for both the broadcast and the live event.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
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Trump administration officials are working to arrange a meeting in Pakistan this weekend to discuss an off-ramp to the war in Iran, two senior administration officials told CNN.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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By accepting the prize, winners grant to Station the right to use the winner's name, voice, picture and/or likeness for purposes of advertising and publicity in any and all media now known or hereafter invented, without further permission or additional compensation (except where prohibited by law).—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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The research lab was already known to Silicon Valley cognoscenti for having invented a personal computer called the Alto and the precursor to the Ethernet networking system.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Conspiracy charge The district attorney's office said Lynch, from jail, allegedly conspired with another individual to have Finn's family's home burglarized.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
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The three men are each charged with a count of conspiring to violate the Export Controls Reform Act, carrying a maximum prison term of 20 years, if convicted.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrive. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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