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
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of contrived
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Even if your beat wasn’t geopolitics or the economic structure behind deep-sea tourism, you were supposed to drop everything and help perpetuate the flood, or find a way to work it into your coverage, however contrived.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2025
Timeka Tounsel, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
None more so than how Conor Coady and Arthur Okonkwo contrived to gift Burrell the third goal from what was effectively an aimless long punt forward.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrived
Adjective
Director Simon Stone seems lost about what to do with this contrived premise and fails to take advantage of its natural claustrophobic nature.
—Verb
Many legends who were part of the WNBA’s early years—the league debuted in 1997—have shared stories about how the fledgling brand stuffed star players into narrow feminine molds that sometimes felt contrived.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrived
Adjective
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Interactions with his wife’s family remain strained; to this day, no one has told 99-year-old Nana that Webster was in prison.—
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That reunion marked the first time that the father and son had seen each other in 19 months amid their strained relationship.—
Verb
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In exchange for not being charged with a DUI, the family’s lawyer concocted a deal in which Skakel was sent to the controversial Élan School in Maine in an effort to correct his unruly behavior.—
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Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report concocted this trade idea that sees the Lakers land and shore up both their frontcourt and backcourt, the Dallas Mavericks duo of former All-Star Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford.—
Verb
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Investigators determined that Melton and the younger Austin plotted to kill the 55-year-old victim and took the pair into custody six days later.—
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The majority of the revolts date back to well before Joseph Cinqué’s carefully plotted rebellion on the Amistad in 1839, the most famous of them and one of a small number that succeeded in securing freedom for those aboard.—
Verb
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Reyes defended the compensation, saying it was negotiated in good faith.—
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The Cheaters deal was negotiated by David Buoymaster on behalf of Radial Entertainment, with Matthew Helderman advising Goldstein Pictures Corporation.—
Adjective
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The semi-annual sale includes so many elegant staples, such as mock-neck cardigans, jackets with unique embellishments, and comfortable pants that look super polished — all starting at just $20.—
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She’s arrived early for her first shift and has already started the residents and med students on some training by way of mock codes.—
Verb
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In the 19th century, the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace devised his own theory of evolution, independent of Charles Darwin, while visiting the region to research his book, The Malay Archipelago.—
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And to that end, the Islamic Republic may have devised a failsafe for itself against popular anger.—
Verb
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Freedom from fear mattered because frightened societies are easily manipulated.—
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In some cases, CBS News ran images through AI detection tools, which can be inconsistent or inaccurate but can still help flag possibly manipulated content.—
Adjective
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While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.—
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The handsome pair of actors play sniper specialists from enemy countries who must each take a long shift on opposite sides of a massive trench where some unnatural monsters apparently lurk below.—
Cite this Entry
“Contrived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrived. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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