1
as in gadget
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use
a new contrivance for cleaning computer keyboards
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in invention
something (as a device) created for the first time through the use of the imagination
despite the many modern contrivances for saving time and labor, we seem to have less leisure and energy than ever before
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in imagination
the ability to form mental images of things that either are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others
in that writer's hands, narrative contrivance can often deteriorate into pointless gimmickry
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrivance
But much of the show’s appeal can be tracked back to a single performer: At the center of all the flattening contrivance, David Hyde Pierce is shuffling about with his mildly hapless, lovable deadpan, giving the production’s only understated performance.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
To add to the list of coincidences and contrivances, Danny’s sister Harper (Jessy Yates), is also an emergency medicine resident working through the storm.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
But contrivances now become necessary to keep some of the new supporting figures in play in a story like this.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
It should be replaced with a sprawling, soulless contrivance.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
To add to the list of coincidences and contrivances, Danny’s sister Harper (Jessy Yates), is also an emergency medicine resident working through the storm.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
But contrivances now become necessary to keep some of the new supporting figures in play in a story like this.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
It should be replaced with a sprawling, soulless contrivance.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrivance
Noun
-
Shoppers are going after clever cleaning gadgets like the Bissell Little Green Carpet Cleaner, which also works on upholstered furniture, as well as the Swiffer PowerMop to make hard floors shine.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
9 July 2025
-
Certainly, every electronic gadget in your home and car contains copper.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Thanks to Apple’s invention, users could rent out an apartment easily on their phone, sitting in their back pocket.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
2 July 2025
-
The Carter family, while influential, can not be credited with the genre's invention.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Such unlikely, but highly consequential possibilities are hardest to foresee due to human bias, but grappling with them can expand strategic imagination and foster more adaptive, option-rich planning.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
11 July 2025
-
Like a game of cat-and-mouse, society will need to be vigilant and remain alert for those who let their imaginations roam wildly.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
And Marcus Wheatland, known as the doctor of the swells, was a medical practitioner and a pioneer of X-rays as a diagnostic tool.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
8 July 2025
-
Amazon is dropping deals on tons of outdoor essentials, like string lights, gardening tools, and patio furniture.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
When leaders create time and space for reflection, organizations shift from cultures of compliance to cultures of thoughtful engagement, unlocking innovation and resilience even in turbulent markets.—
Melanie Hughes,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
-
The American Academy of Nursing has more than 3,200 fellows who represent the organization's mission of advancing health care policy through nursing leadership, innovation and science.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Though its popularity has boomed and waned over the last seven decades, there’s no denying that Mr. Land’s little contraption has long-term staying power.—
Alvina Wang,
Mercury News,
20 May 2025
-
The planes were rickety contraptions with no brakes that belched castor oil and had to be dragged to a stop with a tail skid after landing.—
Victor Luckerson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
Nazar brings speed and creativity to Chicago’s middle six and made history for the franchise this year as the only rookie to score a penalty-shot goal.—
Kaitlyn Pohly,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
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This doesn't mean abandoning creativity but embedding it in a framework that AI can parse.—
Don Dodds,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrivance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrivance. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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