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Synonyms

contrived

American  
[kuhn-trahyvd] / kənˈtraɪvd /

adjective

  1. obviously planned or forced; artificial; strained.

    a contrived story.
contrived British  
/ kənˈtraɪvd /

adjective

  1. obviously planned, artificial, or lacking in spontaneity; forced; unnatural

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • contrivedly adverb
  • uncontrived adjective
  • well-contrived adjective

Etymology

Origin of contrived

First recorded in 1505–15; contrive + -ed 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Saturday: "Contrary to the hype of the contrived media war, structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing."

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

Djiga contrived to head the ball into Martinez's path under no pressure to gift Braga a point, the defender appearing to lose the flight of the ball in swirling conditions.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025

It’s not like those good manners and contrived niceties ever managed to paper over those divisions in the first place.

From Slate • Nov. 19, 2025

And it’s here that “Keeper” starts to unravel, the arrestingly pristine visuals and hypnotic rhythms giving way to contrived explanations.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

How that was contrived we cannot guess; but Gollum is cunning, and the spies of the Enemy are many.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.