1
as in gadget
an interesting and often novel device with a practical use
a new contrivance for cleaning computer keyboards
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrivance
Measuring a president at 100 days is something of a contrivance that is based on a marker set during Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first term back in the 1930s.
—
Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for contrivance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrivance
Noun
-
The toy will be priced at 55 euros; items in the capsule collection will cost between 45 euros and 200 euros, while gadgets will mark the entry price to the project starting to retail at 9.99 euros.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
16 July 2025
-
The field has been caught between academic explorations lacking real-world applicability and consumer gadgets lacking scientific rigor.—
Thorsten Zander,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
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And there's also a de-emphasis of our history of creativity, of innovation, of invention, right?—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
-
When news of Daguerre’s invention reached England, Talbot was alarmed.—
Anika Burgess
July 17,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Dealing With Clogs and Clots Many robot vacuums now come with tiny tools embedded inside the body of the vacuum that make routine maintenance slightly easier.—
Adrienne So,
Wired News,
19 July 2025
-
That’s the total price of all-inclusive hair transplant packages in Turkey, with specialized tools and enhanced precision.—
K. H. Koehler,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
For businesses, this means integrating vision, mission, strategy, culture, etc., in ways that collectively create sustained innovation, success and societal impact.—
Jerry Cahn,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
In contrast, the Cincinnati area is aging more quickly and struggling to draw in younger workers — a trend that, according to the chamber's report, could hinder the region’s ability to compete with other metros in business growth, infrastructure development, and innovation.—
Randy Tucker,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Right at that moment, the large, colorful contraption crested the distant hill.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
Other popular rides included: Finnish Fling, a contraption with a drop floor rotating at high speeds that made riders stick to the wall.—
Abbey Briscoe,
Kansas City Star,
4 July 2025
Noun
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His life reflects a deep and continuous pursuit of learning, creativity, and balance.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
-
But Astronomer unexpectedly chose a different path that included irony, creativity, and self-aware transparency.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrivance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrivance. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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