contrive
10 synonyms for contrive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To plan or invent something using skill and cleverness.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Came into English via Middle English contreve, meaning ‘to invent’, from Old French controver (modern French controuver), from trover, meaning ‘to find’ (French trouver).
Full origin of contrive →