The whole was so contrived as to be ready for use in three minutes.

If the battle at the end is a bit too contrived, no matter.

He would look like a fool with his contrived story.

And the first quarter or so of the piece did look contrived.

Some people actually still believe in contrived studies and propaganda.

So are his contrived efforts to be close to the Hawkins family.

There is a fine line in his work between the fantastic and the contrived.

It also means that her warming up to him seems contrived.

Still, the book is not short on contrived pictorial analysis.

These were contrived fish made especially for the tourist trade.

"It felt very contrived, like, now what is this machine going to do to me?"

The moral of the story is that with a contrived example, you can prove anything.

Under less contrived circumstances, readers might really go for this guy.

As a work of art, it seems contrived and didactic.

A contrived example of such a situation on a smaller board is illustrated at the left.

At times, the approach is somehow both too contrived and straightforward.

But in this case, the result is a contrived, self-conscious design.

A sensitivity, of course, but a contrived and most selective one.

"The account which you gave of yourself was ill contrived," he said.

Frank and Joe usually had things a little too contrived in their favor.

For a short two or three centuries you will find really well contrived battles.

There are a number of inspired dishes here and a few contrived ones.

Such language seems contrived sometimes to cut through boring historical stuff.

"I think the category of contrived fiction has had its day," he said.

Everything about the words on it seemed contrived to frustrate her.

He had to contrive a way to let them find him.

When they are away, we even contrive to live, a little.

He was doing his best to contrive the death of two better men than himself.

It's against everything I can even contrive to think of.

We tried after that to contrive for one another the relationship we'd never had.

I must contrive something fresh to get back to Congress on.

In course of time he will contrive to hit on the right hour for his visit.

He was also contriving to do a great deal of work at the national museum.

I would be happy to hear of such a way if you can contrive it.

And somehow contrive not to have my hand cut off.

Even if he refused, they would contrive to see him.

He must contrive to act sick, which is not going to be easy.

Then it would be up to me to somehow contrive to set him free.

Or if you must lie, at least contrive to do it well.

Many love stories contrive to get their characters together at the end.

"The system is not made to handle this, but people contrive things to make it work."

He wants my land and will contrive some affair of the heart to get it.

For how could a living man contrive such a thing?"

Then - how would you contrive the effect of sinking under the water?

Therefore it followed that I must contrive a new career.

They should also contrive to play from the South position, so that the lead is likely to be helpful.

He contrives to meet her, but she's less than impressed.

To get back home, we are going to have to contrive something similar."

How, then, did he contrive to get at his prey?

It has taken much contriving on my part to keep out of the priests' hands.