contrived
Definition
Adjective: 1. Artificially formal or unnatural: Created or arranged in a way that seems forced, deliberate, or lacking in spontaneity, often to achieve a specific effect. 2. Showing effects of planning or manipulation: Deliberately created rather than arising naturally, often resulting in something that feels artificial or unconvincing.
Examples of Usage
- The dialogue in the play felt contrived and unrealistic, making it hard for the audience to connect with the characters.
- Her apology seemed contrived, as if she had practiced it but didn't truly mean it.
- The movie's happy ending was so contrived that it undermined the serious themes of the story.
- He hated her contrived humility, which was clearly an act for their guests.
Advanced Usage
- "a contrived plot device": A narrative element in a story that feels obviously invented by the author to move the plot forward, rather than emerging organically from the characters or situation.
- The sudden appearance of a long-lost twin to solve the mystery was seen as a contrived plot device.
- "contrived to [verb]": (Less common, formal) Deliberately arranged or schemed to make something happen.
- He contrived to meet her accidentally at the café.
Variants and Related Words
- Contrive (verb): To create or bring about (something) by deliberate use of skill or artifice; to manage to do something foolish or risky.
- The prisoners contrived a plan to escape.
- Contrivance (noun): 1. The use of skill to create or plan something, often something complex. 2. A device or machine, especially one that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated. 3. Something that is overly artificial or planned.
- The plot relies too heavily on coincidence and contrivance.
Synonyms
- Artificial: Made or produced to imitate something natural; not arising from genuine feeling.
- Forced: Done or produced with effort; strained.
- Stilted: (Of speech or writing) stiff and artificially formal.
- Labored: Done with great effort and difficulty; not fluent or natural.
- Unnatural: Contrary to the ordinary course of nature; affected.
Antonyms
- Natural: Existing in or derived from nature; not artificial.
- Spontaneous: Performed or occurring as a result of a sudden impulse; natural and unconstrained.
- Genuine: Truly what something is said to be; sincere.
- Artless: Without guile or deception; natural and simple.
Adjective
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artificially formal
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that artificial humility that her husband hated
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contrived coyness
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a stilted letter of acknowledgment
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when people try to correct their speech they develop a stilted pronunciation
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showing effects of planning or manipulation
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a novel with a contrived ending
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