contrived; contriving
1
: to make schemes
contriver
noun
Synonyms
Examples of contrive in a Sentence
The prisoners contrived a way to escape.
He contrived a meeting with the president.
Recent Examples on the Web
Please, no more contrived hand-wringing and pearl-clutching about the Trump dictatorship.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024
Tom Hardy’s 2013 solo tour de force in Locke (one man’s life seen behind the wheel of a BMW) ventured similarly contrived compassion.
—Armond White, National Review, 28 June 2024
Take that, congressional Republicans, who just got more egg on their faces after contriving a ridiculous April 2023 field hearing to try to embarrass Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and make New York, a place safer than the backyards of many GOP congressmen, look like a Democratic hellhole.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2024
The state’s allegations that KOM was complicit in the coup have led the public to presume that other criminal investigations were contrived attempts by Gulenist officers to undermine the Turkish government.
—Ryan Gingeras, Foreign Affairs, 30 Nov. 2017
See all Example Sentences for contrive 
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024
Tom Hardy’s 2013 solo tour de force in Locke (one man’s life seen behind the wheel of a BMW) ventured similarly contrived compassion.
—Armond White, National Review, 28 June 2024
Take that, congressional Republicans, who just got more egg on their faces after contriving a ridiculous April 2023 field hearing to try to embarrass Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and make New York, a place safer than the backyards of many GOP congressmen, look like a Democratic hellhole.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2024
The state’s allegations that KOM was complicit in the coup have led the public to presume that other criminal investigations were contrived attempts by Gulenist officers to undermine the Turkish government.
—Ryan Gingeras, Foreign Affairs, 30 Nov. 2017
See all Example Sentences for contrive
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Dictionary Entries Near contrive
Cite this Entry
“Contrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrive. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contrive
verb
con·trive
kən-ˈtrīv 
contrived; contriving
1
: plan entry 2 sense 1, plot
contrive a way to escape
2
: to form or make in a skillful or clever way : invent
3
: bring about, manage
contriving to make ends meet
contriver
noun
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