verb
connive
Connive (verb) means to work together with others in secret to do something wrong.
verb
1
To work together with others in secret to do something wrong.
"“I don't know how I would have gotten through this without you.” “Oh, the feeling is mutual. I've always schemed and connived alone. But as a duo, it is, as you might say, "totes ridic!"” “(gasps) I would say that.”"
— Edgar Momplaisir, A Few Badgeys More (2023)
"The Christchurch City Council has connived with the Government to take over all the surrounding local bodies, and it is not without comment that none of the Labour members from Christchurch has spoken on the Bill."
— Philip Ralph Burdon, Local Government Amendment Bill (No. 2) (1985)
2
(botany) Describing plant parts that lean together or touch closely.
3
To deliberately ignore something wrong so as to avoid being blamed for it.
4
To blink or wink quickly.
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Etymology
From French conniver (“to ignore and thus become complicit in wrongdoing”), or directly from its etymon Latin con(n)īvēre (“close or screw up the eyes, blink, wink; overlook, turn a blind eye, connive”) (perhaps alluding to two persons involved in a scheme together winking to each other), from con- (prefix indicating a being or bringing together of several objects) + *nīvēre (related to nictō (“to blink, wink”), from Proto-Indo-European *kneygʷʰ- (“to bend, droop”)).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for connive
See all rhymes for connive →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of connive?
"connive" (verb) means to work together with others in secret to do something wrong.
What is another word for connive?
Other words for "connive" include scheme, intrigue.
What is the opposite of connive?
Opposites of "connive" include investigate, inspect, notice, detect.
What are the different meanings of connive?
"connive" has 3 main meanings: 1. To work together with others in secret to do something wrong; 2. (botany) Describing plant parts that lean together or touch closely; 3. To deliberately ignore something wrong so as to avoid being blamed for it.
