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
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.
Bryant didn’t like anything phony, anything contrived, anything that interfered with the serious business of winning a championship. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025 The whole city, this vast, thirsty project sprouting from the desert, is contrived—and no less beautiful for it. Will Bahr, The Atlantic, 23 Jan. 2025 The rafters are 19th century mine timbers, the atmosphere is old-time ski club (authentic, not contrived), and the walls are covered in local ski lore. Cassidy Randall, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 As humans we are wired for connection, but thanks to our increasingly online world, the lines between what’s real and what’s contrived continue to be blurred. Ebony-Renee Baker, refinery29.com, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contrive 

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 31 Jan. 2025.

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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