connive

American  

[kuh-nahyv] / kəˈnaɪv /

verb (used without object)

connived, conniving

1. to cooperate secretly; conspire (often followed bywith ).

   They connived to take over the business.

   Synonyms:

   collude, plot, plan

2. to avoid noticing something that one is expected to oppose or condemn; give aid to wrongdoing by forbearing to act or speak (usually followed byat ).

   The policeman connived at traffic violations.

3. to be indulgent toward something others oppose or criticize (usually followed byat ).

   to connive at childlike exaggerations.

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connive British  

/ kəˈnaɪv /

verb

1. to plot together, esp secretly; conspire

2. (foll by at) law to give assent or encouragement (to the commission of a wrong)

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Other Word Forms

• conniver noun
• connivingly adverb
• unconnived adjective
• unconniving adjective

Etymology

Origin of connive

1595–1605; (< French conniver ) < Latin co ( n ) nīvēre to close the eyes in sleep, turn a blind eye, equivalent to con- con- + -nīvēre, akin to nictāre to blink ( cf. nictitate)

Explanation

To connive is to plan or plot to do something illegal or wrong. Conniving is considered dishonest and cowardly. If someone accuses you of conniving, that's definitely not a compliment. Conniving usually occurs in secret, and people who connive are up to no good. Criminals planning a bank robbery are conniving. Crooked politicians looking for a bribe are conniving. Villains connive, and conniving is associated with conspiracies and dishonesty. The opposite of conniving is being honest and straightforward.

Example Sentences

It stars Brian Cox as the Roy family patriarch and Jeremy Strong as one of his children, who connive to succeed their father as the company’s leader.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2023

Actually, she doesn't and she will manipulate, exploit and connive anyone without giving it a second thought if it serves her best interests.

From Salon • Aug. 17, 2022

Their claims have been amplified in recent weeks, as the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal revealed how well-off families connive to get kids into selective colleges.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2019

The milieu of the book paints a picture of a treehouse where like minds connive and look for an opening.

From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2014

He would not desert his principle of toleration; he never ceased to enunciate that to the last; but he would connive at violations of it.

From Sermons by Lightfoot, J. B.

Related Words

• collude
• conspire