Contrive and Use

Contrive

Contrive verb - To create or think of by clever use of the imagination.

Use and contrive are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Use" instead a verb "Contrive".

Nearby Words: contrivance, contriving, contriver

Use

Use verb - To put into action or service.

Contrive and use are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Contrive" instead a verb "Use".

Nearby Words: useless, useful, used, usefulness, using

Common collocations

way contrive way use way
times contrive times use times

Both words in one sentence

  • Film / Hero Thanatos Gambit: Nameless and Broken Sword both contrive to use their own deaths to further their goals.
    Source: Film / Hero
  • This is only true of particularly strong and visible words, such as "vertiginous." Better to re-use a simple tag or phrase than to contrive cumbersome methods of avoiding it.
  • Light Novel / Mushoku Tensei Saint ranked or higher spells generally do not have any practical use outside of a war and even you would need to contrive a situation where the magic caster does not accidentally kill off friendly troops.
Cite this Source
Use and Contrive. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/contrive/use
Contrive & Use. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/contrive/use>.
Use or Contrive. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/contrive/use.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "contrive" and "use" have occurred on timeline