contrive
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.).
to form designs; plan.
to plot.
Origin of contrive
1synonym study For contrive
Other words for contrive
Other words from contrive
- con·triv·a·ble, adjective
- con·triv·er, noun
- pre·con·trive, verb, pre·con·trived, pre·con·triv·ing.
- un·con·triv·ing, adjective
Words Nearby contrive
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use contrive in a sentence
There are thousands of ways to contrive a weapon that's at least as dangerous a two-inch hobby knife.
TSA Says Yes to Small Knives, Then No—What’s the Problem? | Patrick Smith | April 26, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTHe must contrive to keep his family alive as he strategizes.
Turning to Tolstoy’s ‘Hadji Murat’ as Boston Locked Down | Liesl Schillinger | April 22, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Republicans contrive new ways every day to get less popular.
That made me think, maybe they can contrive to do something similar on the mandate.
Everybody understands that politicians contrive photo opportunities in which they can perform "care" and "concern."
If any one of the parts should be lost or broken, it would require some ability in that country to contrive a substitute.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickYou generally contrive to make yourself useful to your father in one way or another.
Elsie's Vacation and After Events | Martha FinleyI knew too well that if I took any legal measures, he would contrive to shift the whole burden of lunacy upon me.
The Talking Horse | F. AnsteyThe cabin instantly obeyed them, and they having entered it began to consult how they should contrive to live there.
The Story of Yvashka with the Bear's Ear | AnonymousOur great object was, as the reader will naturally suppose, to contrive some way of escape.
British Dictionary definitions for contrive
/ (kənˈtraɪv) /
(tr) to manage (something or to do something), esp by means of a trick; engineer: he contrived to make them meet
(tr) to think up or adapt ingeniously or elaborately: he contrived a new mast for the boat
to plot or scheme (treachery, evil, etc)
Origin of contrive
1Derived forms of contrive
- contrivable, adjective
- contriver, noun
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
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