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Learn the meaning and usage of the verbs conspire and contrive, which are often confused or mistaken for each other. Conspire means to secretly plot or make plans together, often for something bad or illegal, while contrive means to form by an exercise of ingenuity or to invent something.
Conspire means to plot, contrive, or join in a secret agreement to do an unlawful or wrongful act. See synonyms, examples, word history, and legal definition of conspire.
1 Collaboration: Conspire implies working with others towards a common goal, while contrive can be done alone or with others. 2 Legality: Conspire often implies illegal or harmful activity, while contrive does not necessarily have negative connotations.
Learn the meanings and usage of conspire and contrive, two words that are often confused. Conspire means to make a secret agreement or plot, while contrive means to invent or devise something.
Learn the difference between contrive and conspired, two verbs that are often confused. Contrive means to form by ingenuity, while conspired is the past tense of conspire, which means to secretly plot or agree.
conspire. [intransitive] to secretly plan with other people to do something illegal or harmful. conspire (with somebody) (against somebody) They were accused of conspiring against the king. conspire (together) (to do something) They deny conspiring together to smuggle drugs.
1 Collaboration: Conspire implies collaboration between two or more people, while contrive does not necessarily require collaboration. 2 Secrecy: Conspire often involves secrecy and deceit, while contrive does not necessarily involve these elements.
