Definition

Not forced or artificial; natural and genuine.

Example

Her smile was uncontrived, making her seem more approachable.

Conversation

I really enjoyed that movie we watched last night.

Me too! The characters felt so uncontrived and real.

Exactly! It was refreshing to see such genuine performances.

Yeah, it made the story much more engaging.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Uncontrived → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "contrive" (from Old French *contribuer*, meaning to plan or devise). The word "uncontrived" means not planned or devised, suggesting something that is natural or spontaneous.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') planning or 'devising' ('contrive') something — that's why uncontrived means something that happens naturally without planning.

Visually Confused Words