contrived 1 of 2

adjective

kən-ˈtrīvd How to pronounce contrived (audio)
Definition of contrivednext
as in strained
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality the contrived applause of a TV studio audience that has been told when to clap

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

contrived

2 of 2

verb

past tense of contrive
1
as in concocted
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 plotted
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 negotiated
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contrived
Adjective
The hundreds of millions of people who follow her are aware of this disconnect and embrace the contrived aspect of her persona in a way that’s more meta than classic Hollywood hero worship. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026 Such strong characterizations and go-for-broke performances, especially among the women, make up for some decidedly contrived plotting. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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 The ice bucket set-up for their initial confrontation felt contrived and Vida and Dodie’s dramatic actions involving their hotel room door felt out of character. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contrived
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrived
  1. strained
  2. concocted
  3. plotted
  4. negotiated
  5. mock
  6. devised
  7. manipulated
  8. unnatural
Adjective
  • Then there’s the risk of higher frustration and strained relationships across an organization.
    — Kamya Elawadhi, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • But for Chris Williams, an 18-year employee of the California Department of Education, the contentious return-to-office process may have teed up a strained relationship with downtown.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of strained
Verb
  • In 1949, a Nebraska plumbing contractor named Steve Henson was working in Anchorage, Alaska and concocted a salad dressing out of buttermilk, mayonnaise, and herbs to help feed his crew on remote job sites.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 27 June 2026
  • In the one that opens the film, Forky (Tony Hale), the googly-eyed spork, marries a plastic knife called Karen Beverly (Melissa Villaseñor), a name so perfectly unmelodious that only a kid, or an adult exceptionally good at thinking like one, could have concocted it.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Definition of concocted
Verb
  • So Japanese engineers and scientists plotted out an operations plan that would extend over the next decade and visit two more asteroids.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
  • That will really set the tone for that day, which is just being plotted out now, to really engage in a conversation that will be open to industry pass holders, press, and public to talk about the future of independent film.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026
Definition of plotted
Verb
  • The deal was negotiated by Amazon MGM Studios and Sarah Vacchiano for United Artists.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 2 July 2026
  • Any deal negotiated between team officials and the city will need to come back to the City Council for final approval.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Definition of negotiated
Adjective
  • Those included a charmingly cluttered Bucket family home, a lush candyland with the smell of chocolate piped through the Royal Theater to complement the full-size mock chocolate river, and a glass elevator that flew above the audience.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Grindlinger is a two-way standout from Southern California who Baseball America had going to Boston in its latest mock draft.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 July 2026
Definition of mock
Verb
  • In 2011, Aguirre devised a technique to motivate his Real Zaragoza players ahead of a league match against Real Madrid.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Scientists at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) have devised a technique to turn still-wet coffee grounds into high-grade biofuel in as little as 90 seconds.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 July 2026
Definition of devised
Verb
  • In all the stories across both timelines, Dinner said there’s a common thread about memories and how they can be manipulated, and that exploring it was part of the appeal of the new season — not just for the audience, but for the director.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 July 2026
  • The other company whose shares were manipulated in the scheme, E-Waste, had an even higher market cap at some point, despite being nothing more than a shell company.
    — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of manipulated
Adjective
  • Even after extensive engineering, Coach Eve would take about three seconds to reply to a question—a delay users felt was uncomfortable and unnatural.
    — Benjamin Wolff, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • His speech was an unnatural blur.
    — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of unnatural

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Cite this Entry

“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrived. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of contrived for Spanish Speakers

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