contrive

verb

To invent by an exercise of ingeniosity; to devise

To invent, to make devices; to form designs especially by improvisation.

To project, cast, or set forth, as in a projection of light.

(obsolete, transitive) To spend (time, or a period).

Roots

comcon- · Latin · together, intensive tropustrive- · Latin · to find, devise (via Old French trover)

Synonyms for contrive

devisev inventv formulatev concoctv machinatev fabricatev connivev conspirev conceivev wanglen designn finaglev

Synonyms & related words for contrive

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of contrive — including devise, invent, formulate, concoct, machinate, fabricate. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to contrive

Explore words related to contrive — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include excogitate, devisable, contriver, contrivance, plan, forge, deviser, devisal. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for contrive

Common synonyms for contrive include devise, invent, formulate, concoct, machinate, fabricate, connive, conspire — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does contrive come from?

The word contrive breaks down into 2 roots of Latin origin: con-, from Latin com (“together, intensive”); and trive, from Latin tropus (“to find, devise (via Old French trover)”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.