CONTRIVE Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

contrive

verb

kən-ˈtrīv

Definition of contrive

as in to devise

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

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

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

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 contrive Stranded in a no-man’s land where everybody deplores toxic masculinity but the guys still need to be given something to do, the film doesn’t manage to contrive any actual fun. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 10 Sep. 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 Prosecutors say the former labor and delivery nurse planned the killings and contrived to get her husband out of the house by sending him to pick up medicine for one of their children and dinner for the family. — Michael Casey, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 That’s either an amazing coincidence of errors or the studies were cynically designed to contrive flaws in RCV. — Paul Haughey, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contrive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrive

Verb

After two months, the parties could reassess Hamas’s behavior and devise a more durable mechanism for delivering aid.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Determined to win her back, Ralph devises a crazy plan involving kidnapping the former child star of his favorite Christmas movie.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of devise

Verb

But a few months later, at her 18-month appointment, the standard graph that plotted a child’s weight against their age showed her weight slipping off the curve.

— Raj Panjabi, Time, 13 Oct. 2026
With some hits in the bank and an overall deal with Amazon MGM, Wallace and her team can now take the time to plot what comes next.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of plot

Verb

And third, the FCC can negotiate a consent decree with the broadcaster to redress any violations and resolve an enforcement matter.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
No consensus on what counts as a weapon International efforts to negotiate a new framework banning all weapons in space have stalled because there is no agreement on what counts as a space weapon, among other things, according to Samson.

— Stephanie Liechtenstein, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of negotiate

Verb

The experimental portion of the brewery allowed guests to concoct their own brews, and more than 700 beers were created over the years, according to the brewery's Facebook post.

— Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
The White Sox concocted a creative playing style that blended elements of old-school small ball with home-run power.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of concoct

Verb

That point is proved time and again, as editors scheme against each other, belittle each other’s literary taste and throw Batter under the bus whenever an opportunity arises.

— Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
However, as Pamela Colloff reveals in her taut and engrossing investigation, a scheming jailhouse snitch’s testimony was largely responsible for putting Dailey on death row for decades.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of scheme

Verb

For a bit of an over-the-top perk, the concierge is able to arrange helicopter services to NASA through its rooftop helipad, as well as myriad other special excursions.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
While Sabrina’s identical twin sister, Virginia, was arranged to marry a Chinese American man in the States who spoke no Cantonese, Sabrina wouldn’t let her parents stop their love— or stop her from getting pregnant.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrange

Verb

An American who knows nothing about real football comes to the place where it was invented and attempts to tell the creators of the sport how to play.

— Jay Martel, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
Stellantis The company says it's invented a new type of C-pillar architecture to make this happen.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of invent

Verb

Williams had allegedly conspired with three other individuals to fake his own abduction alongside hers, according to local reports of the incident.

— Breaking News, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Lemon was charged with conspiring to interfere with religious rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of conspire

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contrivances

contrive

contrived

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Style

“Contrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrive. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of contrive

verb

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