What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
connivance
Example
The company was accused of connivance with the government officials to win the contract. [connivance: noun]
Example
His connivance with the thieves made him an accomplice in the robbery. [connivance: noun]
conniving
Example
He was caught conniving with his colleagues to cheat on the exam. [conniving: verb]
Example
She is a conniving person who always tries to get what she wants by manipulating others. [conniving: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Conniving is more commonly used than connivance in everyday language. Conniving is versatile and can be used as a verb or adjective to describe a person's character or behavior, while connivance is less common and mainly used as a noun to describe a specific act of cooperation or ignoring wrongdoing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between connivance and conniving?
Both connivance and conniving are associated with negative connotations and are typically used in informal or negative contexts. However, connivance may be considered more formal due to its use as a legal term in some contexts.
