Trends of
contrivance

View usage for:

contrivance

(kəntraɪvəns)

Word forms: plural contrivances

1. variable noun

If you describe something as a contrivance, you disapprove of it because it is unnecessary and artificial.

[formal, disapproval]

They wear simple clothes and shun modern contrivances.

Music with a tendency towards contrivance and lack of substance.

Synonyms: device, machine, equipment, gear More Synonyms of contrivance

2. countable noun

A contrivance is an unfair or dishonest scheme or trick to gain an advantage for yourself.

...some contrivance to raise prices.

More Synonyms of contrivance

contrivance in British English

(kənˈtraɪvəns)

noun

something contrived, esp an ingenious device; contraption

the act or faculty of devising or adapting; inventive skill or ability

an artificial rather than natural selection or arrangement of details, parts, etc

an elaborate or deceitful plan or expedient; stratagem

contrivance in American English

(kənˈtraɪvəns)

noun

the act, way, or power of contriving

something contrived, as an invention, mechanical device, or ingenious plan

Examples of 'contrivance' in a sentence
contrivance

This "absurdly simple contrivance" almost instantly transformed southern agriculture.It was an obvious contrivance and the previous nine episodes were a trap to lure us into another series.Perhaps the idea of a self is a modern, bourgeois contrivance.These Dickensian references merely underline a streak of contrivance in the plot.That "I suppose" is unconvincing; it is a too obvious contrivance.

1 (noun) in the sense of device

Definition

the act or power of contriving

They wear simple clothes and shun modern contrivances.

Synonyms

device

This device can measure minute quantities of matter.

machine

I put a coin in the machine and pulled the lever.

equipment

Exports of military equipment are banned.

gear

fishing gear

instrument

a thin tube-like optical instrument

implement

writing implements

mechanism

The heat-producing mechanism will switch itself on automatically.

invention

It's been tricky marketing his new invention.

appliance

We need to replace the washing machine and some other household appliances.

apparatus

He was rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.

gadget

a handy gadget for slicing vegetables

contraption (informal)

an interesting musical contraption called a Theremin

2 (noun) in the sense of stratagem

Definition

an elaborate or deceitful plan

It is nothing more than a contrivance to raise prices.

Synonyms

stratagem

a competitive stratagem to secure customer loyalty

plan

She met her creditors to propose a plan for making repayments.

design

They drew up the design in a week.

measure

scheme

a quick money-making scheme

trick

That was a really mean trick.

plot

a plot to overthrow the government

dodge

It was probably just a dodge to stop you going away.

expedient

I reduced my spending by the simple expedient of destroying my credit cards.

ruse

This was a ruse to divide them.

artifice

the artifice and illusion of sleight-of-hand card tricks

machination

the political machinations that brought him to power

intrigue

the plots and intrigues in the novel

Seedevice

Nearby words of
contrivance

contributor
contrite
contrition
contrivance
contrive
contrived
control

Synonyms of 'contrivance'

contrivance

Explore 'contrivance' in the dictionary

单词	contrivance
释义	Trends of contrivance View usage for: contrivance (kəntraɪvəns) Word forms: plural contrivances 1. variable noun If you describe something as a contrivance, you disapprove of it because it is unnecessary and artificial. [formal, disapproval] They wear simple clothes and shun modern contrivances. Music with a tendency towards contrivance and lack of substance. Synonyms: device, machine, equipment, gear More Synonyms of contrivance 2. countable noun A contrivance is an unfair or dishonest scheme or trick to gain an advantage for yourself. ...some contrivance to raise prices. More Synonyms of contrivance contrivance in British English (kənˈtraɪvəns) noun 1. something contrived, esp an ingenious device; contraption 2. the act or faculty of devising or adapting; inventive skill or ability 3. an artificial rather than natural selection or arrangement of details, parts, etc 4. an elaborate or deceitful plan or expedient; stratagem contrivance in American English (kənˈtraɪvəns) noun 1. the act, way, or power of contriving 2. something contrived, as an invention, mechanical device, or ingenious plan Examples of 'contrivance' in a sentence contrivance This "absurdly simple contrivance" almost instantly transformed southern agriculture. Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995) It was an obvious contrivance and the previous nine episodes were a trap to lure us into another series. Times, Sunday Times (2015) Perhaps the idea of a self is a modern, bourgeois contrivance. Times, Sunday Times (2012) These Dickensian references merely underline a streak of contrivance in the plot. Times, Sunday Times (2015) That "I suppose" is unconvincing; it is a too obvious contrivance. Judd, Alan Ford Madox Ford (1990) 1 (noun) in the sense of device Definition the act or power of contriving They wear simple clothes and shun modern contrivances. Synonyms device This device can measure minute quantities of matter. machine I put a coin in the machine and pulled the lever. equipment Exports of military equipment are banned. gear fishing gear instrument a thin tube-like optical instrument implement writing implements mechanism The heat-producing mechanism will switch itself on automatically. invention It's been tricky marketing his new invention. appliance We need to replace the washing machine and some other household appliances. apparatus He was rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus. gadget a handy gadget for slicing vegetables contraption (informal) an interesting musical contraption called a Theremin 2 (noun) in the sense of stratagem Definition an elaborate or deceitful plan It is nothing more than a contrivance to raise prices. Synonyms stratagem a competitive stratagem to secure customer loyalty plan She met her creditors to propose a plan for making repayments. design They drew up the design in a week. measure scheme a quick money-making scheme trick That was a really mean trick. plot a plot to overthrow the government dodge It was probably just a dodge to stop you going away. expedient I reduced my spending by the simple expedient of destroying my credit cards. ruse This was a ruse to divide them. artifice the artifice and illusion of sleight-of-hand card tricks machination the political machinations that brought him to power intrigue the plots and intrigues in the novel Seedevice Nearby words of contrivance contributor contrite contrition contrivance contrive contrived control Synonyms of 'contrivance' contrivance Explore 'contrivance' in the dictionary
随便看	clear a corner clear advantage clearage clear air turbulence clearance clearance certificate clearances clearance sale clearance-sale clearance volume clear as a bell clear as crystal clear as day clear as mud clear a table clear away clear benefit clear boundary clearchus clearcole clear commitment clear conscience clear cut clear-cut clearcutting

Trends ofcontrivance

contrivance

contrivance in British English

contrivance in American English

Examples of 'contrivance' in a sentencecontrivance

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Synonyms of 'contrivance'

contrivance

Trends of
contrivance

Examples of 'contrivance' in a sentence
contrivance

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contrivance