Definition of "contrive" []

To plan with cleverness or ingenuity; devise: contrive ways to amuse the children. (verb-transitive)
To invent or fabricate, especially by improvisation: contrived a swing from hanging vines. (verb-transitive)
To plan with evil intent; scheme: contrived a plot to seize power. (verb-transitive)
To bring about, as by scheming; manage: somehow contrived to get past the guards unnoticed. (verb-transitive)
To form plans or schemes. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "contrive" in a sentence

"Fathers are fathers of the worst sort, such as contrive to keep their children in a perpetual state of infancy, that they may exercise perpetual and absolute dominion over them."
"'em, an 'contrive 'em, both sides on 'em, all an' similar!"
"Do not the young men contrive great wealth what of their pack-straps and paddles?"

Words like "contrive"

concert contrivance contrived contriver

contrives contriving create by mental act create mentally

design discover hatch invent

plan plot project scheme