contrive

verb

con·​trive kən-ˈtrīv How to pronounce contrive (audio)
contrived; contriving

transitive verb

1
a
: devise, plan
contrive ways of handling the situation
The prisoners contrived a way to escape.
b
: to form or create in an artistic or ingenious manner
contrived household utensils from stone
Native Americans contrived weapons out of stone, wood, and bone.
2
: to bring about by stratagem or with difficulty : manage
he contrived to win their support

intransitive verb

: to make schemes
contriver noun

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 Sometimes ambiguous, sometimes literal — with gestures reflecting lyrics — the active dancing, along with everyday, pedestrian movement, can seem both contrived and predictable. Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 In the original series, Colt moonlighted as a bounty hunter, employing filmmaking tricks to capture his targets — a fun if contrived excuse for stunt driving and pyrotechnic sequences. Peter Debruge, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 At the heart of the prosecution’s case is the contention that the three defendants, who were indicted in July 2022, contrived different and ever-changing stories about how Sanders came to be in possession of the paperwork. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2024 The new investigation, in his view, is theater—contrived by the government to distract from the dozens of journalists, politicians, activists, and dissident soldiers who have been thrown in jail in the past couple of months. Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2024 And as friends, strangers and even the local news station join the herculean effort, clichéd stabs at greater meaning make this true story feel strangely contrived. Jen Yamato, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024 China’s claims to kinship with the global South are cynical and contrived. Happymon Jacob, Foreign Affairs, 25 Dec. 2023 The business cases often seem contrived or won’t close when all the costs and alternatives are considered. Greg Autry, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Some of that controversy has been contrived by the outfit’s political opponents, but some of it — such as the use of members’ dues to fund the lavish lifestyles of LaPierre and his colleagues — has been real. David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contrive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English controven, contreven, from Anglo-French controver, contrever, from Medieval Latin contropare to compare, from Latin com- + Vulgar Latin *tropare to compose, find — more at troubadour

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of contrive was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near contrive

Cite this Entry

“Contrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrive. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

contrive

verb
con·​trive kən-ˈtrīv How to pronounce contrive (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on contrive

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