contrive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They can dominate chunks of a game with their excellence and then contrive to lose that same game with their mental wobbles.
From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026
The members must contrive to pay the new guy off, which means redeeming the deadbeat’s paper.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025
Of course, if the show becomes a fantabulous success, the Netflix engineers may contrive a way to make it live again; it’s happened before.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2025
One of the first things McCartney did when he took over the Buffs in 1982 was contrive a rivalry with Nebraska and ban red in the football building.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 6, 2023
“I wish we could contrive it,” said she; “but I cannot think of any tolerable pretence for going in;—no servant that I want to inquire about of his housekeeper—no message from my father.”
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
Vocabulary lists containing contrive
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