definitions

contrived

[ kuh n-trahyvd ]
/ kənˈtraɪvd /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contrived ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

obviously planned or forced; artificial; strained: a contrived story.

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RELATED WORDS

phony, false, forced, affected, elaborate, strained, overdone, labored, fake, artificial, unnatural, unspontaneous

Nearby words

contrite, contritely, contrition, contrivance, contrive, contrived, control, control account, control board, control center, control character

Origin of contrived

First recorded in 1505–15; contrive + -ed2
Related formscon·triv·ed·ly [kuh n-trahy-vid-lee] /kənˌtraɪ vɪd li/, adverbun·con·trived, adjectivewell-con·trived, adjective

Definition for contrived (2 of 2)

contrive

[ kuhn-trahyv ]
/ kənˈtraɪv /

verb (used with object), con·trived, con·triv·ing.

to plan with ingenuity; devise; invent: The author contrived a clever plot.
to bring about or effect by a plan, scheme, or the like; manage: He contrived to gain their votes.
to plot (evil, treachery, etc.).

verb (used without object), con·trived, con·triv·ing.

to form designs; plan.
to plot.

Origin of contrive

1275–1325; Middle English contreven < Middle French contreuv-, tonic stem of controver to devise, invent, Old French: to decide, agree upon < Late Latin contropāre to compare, equivalent to con- con- + *tropāre (> French trouver to find; see trover); development of vowel unclear
SYNONYMS FOR contrive
1 design, concoct. See prepare.
3 conspire, scheme.
5 connive.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contrive ON THESAURUS.COM
Related formscon·triv·a·ble, adjectivecon·triv·er, nounpre·con·trive, verb, pre·con·trived, pre·con·triv·ing.un·con·triv·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for contrived

British Dictionary definitions for contrived (1 of 2)

contrived

/ (kənˈtraɪvd) /

adjective

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

British Dictionary definitions for contrived (2 of 2)

contrive

/ (kənˈtraɪv) /

verb

(tr) to manage (something or to do something), esp by means of a trick; engineerhe contrived to make them meet
(tr) to think up or adapt ingeniously or elaboratelyhe contrived a new mast for the boat
to plot or scheme (treachery, evil, etc)
Derived Formscontrivable, adjectivecontriver, noun

Word Origin for contrive

C14: from Old French controver, from Late Latin contropāre to represent by figures of speech, compare, from Latin com- together + tropus figure of speech, trope
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