contrivance
Ingenious mechanical invention
A contrivance is something cleverly made or devised, often suggesting ingenuity or artifice.
The word can describe a mechanical device or gadget, especially an improvised one: The garage was full of strange contrivances he'd built from spare parts.
It also refers to schemes or plans, sometimes with a negative connotation of being overly clever or manipulative: The plot relied on an unlikely contrivance to bring the characters together.
In literary criticism, contrivance often implies forced or artificial plot devices.
Equipment for a task
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
- gadgetNovel small device
- contraptionImprovised or odd mechanism
- gizmoNameless mechanical device
widget · appliance · instrument · implement · machine · invention · rig · equipment
Storyline or land parcel
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
tactic · ruse · intrigue · gambit · design · conspiracy · manipulation · plan
Deliberate deception or fraud
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- shamFraudulent imitation
pretense · chicanery · subterfuge · fraud · hoax · charade · masquerade · fakery
New device or method
- clevernessMental quickness and skill
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- innovationCreating something original
- creativityCapacity for original thought
improvisation · makeshift · jury-rigging · quick-thinking · originality · brilliance · inventiveness · workaround
Precise procedural point
- gapUnfilled space between
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- workaroundMakeshift bypass of difficulty
- escapeFlight from captivity
excuse · ambiguity · exploit · exception · opening · evasion
Artificial behavior for effect
- pretensionUnwarranted claim to merit
- staginessExcessive dramatic artifice
- unnaturalnessState of seeming contrived
- forcednessUnnatural, strained quality
stiltedness · labored · overwrought · studied · calculated · mannered · theatrical · forced
apparatus
Equipment for a task
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
- gadgetNovel small device
- contraptionImprovised or odd mechanism
gizmo · widget · appliance · instrument · implement · machine · invention · rig · equipment · gear
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
maneuver · tactic · ruse · intrigue · gambit · design · conspiracy · manipulation · plan · agenda
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
sham · pretense · chicanery · subterfuge · fraud · hoax · charade · masquerade · fakery · misrepresentation
invention
New device or method
- clevernessMental quickness and skill
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- innovationCreating something original
creativity · improvisation · makeshift · jury-rigging · quick-thinking · originality · brilliance · inventiveness · workaround · adaptation
technicality
Precise procedural point
- gapUnfilled space between
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- workaroundMakeshift bypass of difficulty
escape · excuse · ambiguity · exploit · exception · opening · evasion
affectation
Artificial behavior for effect
- pretensionUnwarranted claim to merit
- staginessExcessive dramatic artifice
- unnaturalnessState of seeming contrived
forcedness · stiltedness · labored · overwrought · studied · calculated · mannered · theatrical · forced · strained
- thingamajigsthingamajig, thingamabob, whatchamacallit, doohickey, doodad
- gimmicksgimmick, trick, ploy, stunt, gag
- writing flawstypos, spelling errors, plot hole, plot holes, cliche
- unnaturalnessartificiality, affectation, falseness, fabrication, simulation
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- devicesdevice, gadget, smartphone, tablet, laptop
contrivancespontaneity
Acting without forethought
accident · happenstance · nature · coincidence · chance
contrivancecopy
Identical reproduction made
replica · reproduction · duplicate · imitation · clone
contrivancehonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
sincerity · straightforwardness · candor · artlessness · forthrightness