First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
contrived
adjective con·trived \kən-ˈtrīvd\
: having an unnatural or false appearance or quality
Full Definition of CONTRIVED
: having an unnatural or false appearance or quality : artificial, labored <a contrived plot>
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Examples of CONTRIVED
- … it may remind readers of Christopher Nolan's ingeniously contrived mystery film “Memento” … —Joyce Carol Oates, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2005
- The music industry has become far more image conscious and contrived since her first album affected me so profoundly … —Lisa Marie Presley, Time, 18 Apr. 2005
- There are some who scorn that sterling art form, the afternoon soap opera, alleging that its characters are unbelievable, its plots contrived and its action negligible. —Lydel Sims, Assignment: Memphis, 1982
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Origin of CONTRIVED
(see contrive)
Related to CONTRIVED
- Synonyms
- affected, assumed, bogus, artificial, factitious, fake, false, feigned, forced, mechanical, mock, phony (also phoney), plastic, pretended, pseudo, put-on, sham, simulated, spurious, strained, unnatural
- Antonyms
- artless, genuine, natural, spontaneous, unaffected, uncontrived, unfeigned, unforced
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