Contrive
Contrive verb - To engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends.
Usage example: the mischievous boys were always contriving and trying to pull the prank that would be the talk of the school
Manipulate is a synonym for contrive in invent topic. In some cases you can use "Manipulate" instead a verb "Contrive", when it comes to topics like involve, arrange, operate, scheme.
Manipulate
Manipulate verb - To control or take advantage of by artful, unfair, or insidious means.
Usage example: the con man would slyly manipulate the emotions of his marks in order to win their sympathy and trust
Contrive is a synonym for manipulate in involve topic. You can use "Contrive" instead a verb "Manipulate", if it concerns topics such as arrange, operate.
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Cite this Source
Manipulate and Contrive. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/contrive/manipulate
Contrive & Manipulate. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/contrive/manipulate>.
Manipulate or Contrive. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/contrive/manipulate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "contrive" and "manipulate" have occurred on timeline