Definitions
- Referring to a secret plan or plot between two or more people to do something illegal or harmful. - Talking about a group of people working together to achieve a common goal, often in a secretive or underhanded way. - Describing a situation where events or circumstances seem to be working together to produce a particular outcome.
- Referring to the act of planning or devising a scheme or idea, often with ingenuity or creativity. - Talking about the act of inventing or creating something, often with limited resources or under difficult circumstances. - Describing the act of managing to do something despite obstacles or challenges.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words involve planning or devising something.
- 2Both words can have negative connotations.
- 3Both words can be used to describe secretive or underhanded behavior.
- 4Both words can be used to describe overcoming obstacles or challenges.
What is the difference?
- 1Collaboration: Conspire implies working with others towards a common goal, while contrive can be done alone or with others.
- 2Legality: Conspire often implies illegal or harmful activity, while contrive does not necessarily have negative connotations.
- 3Ingenuity: Contrive emphasizes creativity and resourcefulness, while conspire does not necessarily require these qualities.
- 4Obstacles: Contrive emphasizes overcoming obstacles or challenges, while conspire does not necessarily involve obstacles.
- 5Outcome: Conspire emphasizes the end result of the plan, while contrive emphasizes the act of planning itself.
Remember this!
Conspire and contrive are both verbs that involve planning or devising something. However, conspire typically implies working with others towards a common goal, often in a secretive or underhanded way, while contrive emphasizes creativity and resourcefulness in planning or inventing something, often with limited resources or under difficult circumstances. Additionally, conspire often has negative connotations, implying illegal or harmful activity, while contrive does not necessarily have negative connotations.