contrive Overview Similar and opposite words Usage examples Dictionary Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more verb create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice. "his opponents contrived a crisis" Similar: bring about engineer cause to happen manufacture orchestrate stage-manage create devise concoct construct design formulate plan work out think up dream up come up with fabricate plot hatch wangle set up cook up procure manage to do something foolish or create an undesirable situation. "the poor guy in some way contrived to hang himself" Similar: manage find a way engineer a way arrange succeed in work it swing it compass