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Connive - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Connive means to secretly allow or ignore wrongdoing, often by pretending not to notice it. It can also involve cooperating in a deceitful or illegal act.

connive

/kəˈnaɪv/ /kəˈnʌɪv/

Definition:

Secretly allow or conspire in wrongdoing, often by ignoring or feigning ignorance.

Synonyms:

conspire, collude, scheme, plot

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

oppose, prevent

Common Collocations:

connive at, connive with, connive against

Derivatives:

conniver, conniving

Usage Tips:

Use "connive" when describing secret cooperation in deceitful actions, often implying passive allowance of wrongdoing.

Common Phrases:

turn a blind eye, wink at something, look the other way

Etymology:

From Latin "connivere," meaning "to shut the eyes," implying silent complicity.

Examples:

  • 1. The manager chose to connive at the employee's theft to avoid confrontation.
  • 2. They suspected the officials would connive with the smugglers for bribes.
  • 3. She refused to connive in her friend's dishonest plan to cheat on the test.
  • 4. Parents should not connive at their children’s bad behavior by ignoring it.

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