Antonyms for contrive
| Grammar : Verb |
| Spell : kuhn-trahyv |
| Phonetic Transcription : kənˈtraɪv |
Definition of contrive
Origin :- early 14c., from Old French controver (Modern French controuver) "to find out, contrive, imagine," from Late Latin contropare "to compare" (via a figure of speech), from Latin com- "with" (see com-) + tropus "song, musical mode," from Greek tropos "figure of speech" (see trope).
- Sense evolution (in French) was from "invent with ingenuity" to "invent falsely." Spelled contreve until unexplained 15c. sound change that also affected briar, friar, choir. Related: Contrived; contriving.
- verb invent, design
- verb bring about, succeed with difficulty
- You little witch, how did you contrive to make a fool of a man like me!
- Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
- "That's all right," Garson replied, with such carelessness of manner as he could contrive.
- Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
- There is no doubt, replied Altamont, of its utility; but how would you contrive to make it?
- Extract from : « The Field of Ice » by Jules Verne
- What a vast deal of work you do contrive to cut out for yourself.
- Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
- If you, Mr. Temple, can contrive to pass this week at Mr. Percy's, let me not detain you.
- Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
- But I wish she would not contrive to be always in the right.
- Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
- Contrive to be in the garden, in disguise, if possible, and unseen by your young lady.
- Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
- Once there, we shall be able to contrive an interview with Mr. Dunbar.
- Extract from : « Henry Dunbar » by M. E. Braddon
- Ah, that is unlucky; but never mind, we must contrive to get on without it.
- Extract from : « Henry Dunbar » by M. E. Braddon
- But the moment we cease to report and attempt to correct and contrive, it is not truth.
- Extract from : « Essays, First Series » by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Synonyms for contrive
- achieve
- angle
- arrange
- carry out
- cogitate
- collude
- come up with
- compass
- concoct
- connive
- construct
- cook up
- create
- develop
- devise
- dream up
- effect
- elaborate
- engineer
- execute
- fabricate
- fashion
- finagle
- forge
- form
- formulate
- frame
- handle
- hatch
- hit upon
- improvise
- intrigue
- jockey
- machinate
- make
- make up
- manage
- maneuver
- manipulate
- manufacture
- mastermind
- move
- negotiate
- pass
- plan
- play games
- plot
- project
- rig
- scheme
- shift
- swing
- throw together
- trump up
- vamp
- wangle
- whip up
- work out
- wrangle
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019