1
as in to ignore
to secretly sympathize with or pretend ignorance of something improper or unlawful
the principal connived at all the school absences that were recorded on the day of the city's celebration of its Super Bowl victory
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plot
to engage in a secret plan to accomplish evil or unlawful ends
suspects that his coworkers are conniving to get him fired
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Recent Examples of connive
After taking down a conniving businessman and reuniting with his brother Braxton (Jon Bernthal), the reclusive CPA absconds from Illinois and sets out on the open road.
—
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
From the dynastic Dupree family to the conniving social climbers bent on usurping their place at the top of the social hierarchy, the historic new daytime drama is all about its characters.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2025
One of my favorite Hackman villains is the conniving country-boy crime boss Mary Ann in Michael Ritchie’s sublimely caustic satire Prime Cut (1972).
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
On Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg played Georgina Sparks, a conniving socialite who repeatedly popped up during the show’s six-season run to wreak havoc on the other Upper East Siders.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for connive
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
From the dynastic Dupree family to the conniving social climbers bent on usurping their place at the top of the social hierarchy, the historic new daytime drama is all about its characters.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2025
One of my favorite Hackman villains is the conniving country-boy crime boss Mary Ann in Michael Ritchie’s sublimely caustic satire Prime Cut (1972).
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
On Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg played Georgina Sparks, a conniving socialite who repeatedly popped up during the show’s six-season run to wreak havoc on the other Upper East Siders.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for connive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for connive
Verb
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However, Catherine was unimpressed by him going overboard — and ignoring the importance of bedside manner — in the clinic.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Victoria Goodwin has accepted a plea deal for her involvement in plotting her estranged husband Aaron Goodwin’s murder.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Leaders assume everything is fine, not realizing that high performers are masters at appearing fine while already plotting their next move.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Commas and quotation marks wink from around the room.—
Thao Thai,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2025
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Vonnegut begged readers to choose kindness, to keep winking through the darkness.—
Devin Kelly,
Outside Online,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Kiffin often schemed open the first read, and Dart operated almost entirely out of the shotgun.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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That is complicit with scheming orchestrated by politicized bureaucrats.—
Jack Fowler,
National Review,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Connive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/connive. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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