a contrived situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a contrived situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a scenario that seems artificial, forced, or not natural, often in storytelling or discussions about events. Example: "The plot of the movie relied heavily on a contrived situation that made it hard for the audience to relate to the characters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Hysong et al. [2] suggested a business game training approach where a business game is a contrived situation, which embeds players/learners in a simulated business or project environment where they must make management-type decisions such as resource allocation from time to time besides teaching interpersonal skills like communication and conflict management.

International Journal of Quality Innovation

In a contrived situation she becomes desperate for money; Kidder lends it to her and before long is exacting his price.

The Guardian - Books

Although he renders his wife and young son entertainingly, they wind up sounding like sitcom characters, if only because this book is spun out of such a contrived situation.

The New York Times - Books

It's what Pc Steve calls a "good result", but it's a contrived situation and one that's clearly part of an effort to "sell" the device, which is now carried by up to 128 police officers in the capital at any one time.

Independent

Where the great strength of "Night" is the identification of author and subject, "The Judges" has a contrived situation that exists merely to support all sorts of philosophical speculations about life and death and good and evil, rather than providing a context where the characters can breathe and develop.

The New York Times - Books

As such, this mission is pretty pointless and serves more as a contrived situation to get a bunch of badass Game of Thrones characters together for a north-of-the-wall heist mission.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Making Mr. Walker's contrived situation even more so, the thief decides to drop in on his mark, and the dysfunctional quartet gets to match wits with him.

The New York Times

The deliberately contrived situation in Karen Ostrom's "He Saw What She Thought," in which the same person (presumably the artist) poses as two characters, is derived from the false movie stills of Cindy Sherman, which are by definition theatrical and self-conscious.

The New York Times

Mr. Hooks of "He's the Mayor" needs more than a cute face and contrived situations to stave off cancellation.

The New York Times - Arts

And despite his occasionally contrived situations, he rightly dreads a Coney of corporate chain logos and upper-class condominiums.

The New York Times

And so we're left watching this stranger ricochet through contrived situations that vaguely resemble the Hepburn films, escorted by a man (Brian Sutherland) who materializes out of nowhere for no apparent reason.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a contrived situation", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is responsible for creating the artificiality. Be specific about the intention behind the contrivance to strengthen your argument or narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "a contrived situation" simply to criticize a plot or scenario without providing specific reasons why it feels unnatural or forced. Support your claim with concrete examples of the artificiality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a contrived situation" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. It describes a scenario that is artificially created or deliberately arranged. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a contrived situation" is a useful tool for expressing skepticism or disapproval towards scenarios that seem artificially constructed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly appears in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, consider alternatives like "an artificial scenario" or "a manufactured event", ensuring your analysis is specific and well-supported to avoid vague criticism. By understanding its function and potential alternatives, you can effectively convey your perspective on the artificiality of a situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an artificial scenario

Emphasizes the artificial and unnatural aspect of the situation.

a manufactured event

Highlights the deliberate creation or fabrication of the situation.

a staged incident

Suggests that the situation was carefully planned and presented for a specific effect.

a fabricated circumstance

Focuses on the invented or concocted nature of the situation.

a forced event

Emphasizes the lack of natural development and the presence of external pressure.

a trumped-up affair

Implies that the situation is exaggerated or based on false pretenses.

a put-up job

Suggests a setup or a deceptive arrangement.

a prearranged scheme

Highlights the pre-planning and coordination involved in the situation.

a planned scenario

Focuses on the intentional design of the situation.

a simulated circumstance

Suggests the situation is not real but is an imitation or representation.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "a contrived situation" in a sentence?

Use "a contrived situation" to critique plot points, social interactions, or experiments that seem artificially set up. For example, "The movie's resolution relied on "a contrived situation" that felt unrealistic and unsatisfying."

What's the difference between "a contrived situation" and "a realistic scenario"?

"A contrived situation" suggests artificiality and a lack of genuine development, often feeling forced or unnatural. In contrast, "a realistic scenario" reflects events and conditions that could plausibly occur in the real world, offering authenticity and believability.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "a contrived situation"?

You can use alternatives like "a forced event", "an artificial scenario", or "a manufactured event" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

In what contexts is it most appropriate to use the phrase "a contrived situation"?

It's appropriate to use "a contrived situation" when discussing elements of fiction (like books, movies, or plays), social experiments, or even business games where the setup seems artificial and designed for a specific, often unrealistic, outcome.