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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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 contrived bogeyman for election fraud scaremongers is the undocumented immigrant community. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 Somebody like Gilroy or Jeff Kober and Barry Corbin (popping up occasionally as a pair of geriatric gangsters) will come and go in situations knowingly designed to feel contrived. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
Until, of course, the final game (which was not technically the final)… when Brazil contrived to lose a 1-0 lead, and Uruguay triumphed against all odds. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2026 The work lies in making that interface feel truthful rather than contrived. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 26 May 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
  • Rice could return in the coming week after suffering a strained hamstring.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026
  • As an 'artificial friend' purchased for an ailing teen, Jenna Ortega tries hard to illuminate this misbegotten Kazuo Ishiguro adaptation, but Waititi's decision to play it for strained, whimsical comedy is ruinous.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of strained
Verb
  • 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
  • Martha’s concocted plenty over the years, including her cider-bourbon cocktail made with apple cider, bourbon, lemon juice, ginger, and apple garnishes.
    — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of concocted
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
  • By the time the coffee shop building was going up at the end of the route in 1959, Fresco said, interstate freeways were already beginning to usurp Route 66’s role and the Santa Monica route of Interstate 10 had been plotted.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of plotted
Verb
  • Pascal Lamy negotiated China’s accession to the WTO in 2001 on behalf of the EU.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
    — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of negotiated
Adjective
  • Instead, the beleaguered quarterback continues to slide down mock draft boards as the season matures.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Testing sensors on canisters During the INL demonstration, researchers installed optical fibers outside a mock nuclear fuel canister and tested several arrangements to measure acoustic vibrations.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of mock
Verb
  • Kamran Pasha has devised a truly unique take that honors the source material while expanding it in an enthralling, unexpected way.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Designed for twice-daily use, the cream is meant to be applied with a massage ritual the brand devised just for the cream—a final touch on its feel-good MO.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of devised
Verb
  • The Delhi agitation centers on allegations that voter lists were manipulated during the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The researchers then manipulated the scenario by changing what happened after the focal bee returned to the hive and gave directions to the feeder.
    — Marta Hill, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of manipulated
Adjective
  • Some movements feel unnatural, facial expressions are exaggerated, and small details occasionally fall into the uncanny valley or break rules of logical consistency.
    — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But closer examination reveals that OpenAI’s proof builds its unnatural force in a totally distinct way.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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