too obviously the result of forethought and planning; forced; artificial
adjective
The definition of contrived is something that seems made-up or forced, or that doesn't ring true.
When a plot of a movie or book is far-fetched and doesn't ring true, this is an example of a plot that would be described as contrived.
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"contrived." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrived>.
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contrived. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrived
contrived
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"contrived." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrived>.
APA Style
contrived. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrived
contrived
adjective
Obviously planned or calculated; not spontaneous or natural; labored: a novel with a contrived ending.
Related Forms:
- con·triv′ed·ly
adverb
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"contrived." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrived>.
APA Style
contrived. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrived
Verb
- simple past tense and past participle of contrive
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
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MLA Style
"contrived." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 19 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrived>.
APA Style
contrived. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/contrived
Sentence Examples
- "I should hope to smile," he said with a contrived southern accent.
- Not the abbreviated version contrived for a witless or hysterical wife, but the whole thing – including any designs Lori has on you... or you have for her.
- Not only did his reason not reproach him for what he had done, but he even found cause for self-satisfaction in having so successfully contrived to avail himself of a convenient opportunity to punish a criminal and at the same time pacify the mob.
- During the Civil War James was taken prisoner by Fairfax (1646), but contrived to escape to Holland in 1648.
- Though Kutuzov had dismissed all unnecessary men from the staff, Boris had contrived to remain at headquarters after the changes.
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WORDS NEAR contrived IN THE DICTIONARY
- contrived
- contrivement
- contrivements
- contriver