contrivance
1 of 1nouna device, tool, or mechanism designed to perform a specific function or task efficiently
- He invented a clever contrivance to open stubborn jars.
- The kitchen was full of contrivances for cooking and baking.
- This simple contrivance makes pruning the trees much easier.
- The engineer demonstrated a new contrivance for lifting heavy loads.
- She bought a contrivance that organizes cables neatly.
the ability to invent or solve problems through clever thinking
- Her contrivance was evident in the way she solved the puzzle.
- The engineer's contrivance led to a breakthrough in design.
- With remarkable contrivance, he built a working model from scraps.
- The plan showed more contrivance than practicality.
- The artist's contrivance gave the sculpture its unique motion.
an improvised or makeshift arrangement used temporarily
- They set up a contrivance of chairs and planks as a temporary table.
- The campers built a contrivance to hold their pots over the fire.
- A contrivance of ropes and boards served as a quick bridge.
- The stage crew used a contrivance to support the backdrop.
- Their contrivance kept the broken cart wheel from falling off.
an elaborate, deceitful, or cleverly planned scheme designed to mislead or evade
- The spy's contrivance fooled the enemy for months.
- His contrivance to avoid taxes was eventually discovered.
- The novel's plot hinged on a contrivance to trap the villain.
- She devised a contrivance to gain access to the restricted area.
- The politician's contrivance misled the public.
an artificial, unnatural, or obviously staged arrangement of details or elements
- The movie's ending felt like a contrivance, too forced to be believable.
- Critics called the dialogue a contrivance, lacking real emotion.
- The garden's design appeared as a contrivance rather than natural beauty.
- Her sudden change of heart was a narrative contrivance.
- The painting's perspective was an obvious contrivance.
a plot device or literary technique used to resolve a difficult situation in an unexpected or artificial way
A contrivance is a literary device or plot element that is artificially created or engineered to advance the plot or resolve a conflict. It often refers to a plot twist, solution, or situation that feels overly convenient, forced, or unrealistic. For instance, if a character suddenly discovers a hidden letter that provides crucial information to solve a mystery, and this letter just happens to be in the exact place needed, it might be considered a contrivance. The term is generally used to describe plot devices that seem forced or implausible, rather than arising naturally from the story.
- The hero's sudden inheritance was a convenient contrivance.
- Critics noted the contrivance that solved the story's central conflict.
- The writer used a contrivance to reunite the estranged lovers.
- The magical object acted as a contrivance to end the quest.
- Some plot contrivances can make a story feel predictable.