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- Dictionarycontrived/kənˈtrʌɪvd/
adjective
- 1. deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously.
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adjective. disapproving uk / kənˈtraɪvd / us / kənˈtraɪvd / Add to word list. artificial and difficult to believe: I enjoyed the film, but felt the ending was a bit contrived. His excuse sounded a bit contrived. Synonym. stilted disapproving. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Affected & insincere. affectation. affectedly. archly.
CONTRIVE definition: 1. to arrange a situation or event, or arrange for something to happen, using clever planning: 2…. Learn more.
: having an unnatural or false appearance or quality : artificial, labored. a contrived plot. Synonyms. affected. artificial. assumed. bogus. factitious. fake. false. feigned. forced. mechanical. mock. phony. phoney. plastic. pretended. pseudo. put-on. sham.
1. a. : devise, plan. contrive ways of handling the situation. The prisoners contrived a way to escape. b. : to form or create in an artistic or ingenious manner. contrived household utensils from stone. Native Americans contrived weapons out of stone, wood, and bone. 2. : to bring about by stratagem or with difficulty : manage.
The adjective contrived describes something that is artificially planned, especially in an obvious way, so it comes across as faked or forced. It's not just drama that can come off as contrived. Someone's speech habits, wardrobe, or even personality can seem contrived.
If you say that something someone says or does is contrived, you think it is false and deliberate, rather than natural and not planned.
1. (transitive) to manage (something or to do something), esp by means of a trick; engineer. he contrived to make them meet. 2. (transitive) to think up or adapt ingeniously or elaborately. he contrived a new mast for the boat. 3. to plot or scheme ( treachery, evil, etc) Collins English Dictionary.
