connive
C1Formal, Literary, or Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
To secretly allow or assist in wrongdoing, especially by ignoring or pretending not to see it.
To cooperate secretly or conspire in a dishonest or illegal scheme; also, to scheme or plot in a broader, less strictly illegal sense.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb implies passive complicity through deliberate inaction (the original and often stronger sense) or active, secret collaboration. Often carries strong moral disapproval. The preposition 'at' is used for passive allowance; 'with' or 'in' for active conspiracy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. Both recognise the primary sense of secret complicity.
Connotations
In both varieties, it is a strong, negative word implying moral failing or conspiracy.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and formal in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
connive at somethingconnive with somebody (in something/to do something)connive to do somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To turn a blind eye (a near-synonymous idiom for 'connive at')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board was accused of conniving with the CEO to hide the company's losses.
Academic
The historian argued that the local authorities connived at the persecution of minority groups.
Everyday
It felt like the whole office was conniving to get me to quit.
Technical
Rarely used in pure technical contexts; more common in legal, political, or historical analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The shopkeeper connived at the black-market trade.
- She connived with her colleagues to undermine the manager.
American English
- The officials connived in the fraud scheme.
- They were accused of conniving to fix the bid.
adverb
British English
- He acted connivingly to secure the promotion.
- She smiled connivingly, knowing her plan was working.
American English
- They worked connivingly behind the scenes.
- The deal was arranged connivingly.
adjective
British English
- A conniving look passed between them.
- He was known for his conniving nature.
American English
- Her conniving scheme was finally exposed.
- I don't trust his conniving tactics.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The government was accused of conniving with the rebels.
- He would not connive at their dishonesty.
- Senior managers connived in a complex accounting fraud to inflate the company's share price.
- The regime's critics allege that neighbouring states have long connived at the trafficking of illegal arms across the border.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CON-artist who secretly contrives a NaIVE person's downfall. CON-NaIVE.
Conceptual Metaphor
SIGHT/BLINDNESS (to connive at = to pretend not to see), SECRET PARTNERSHIP (connive with = to be in a hidden alliance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как "связываться" или "общаться".
- Ближайшие аналоги: "потворствовать", "попустительствовать" (connive at), "вступить в сговор" (connive with).
- Слово имеет исключительно негативный, осуждающий оттенок.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'cooperate' without the secret/illegal nuance.
- Confusing 'connive at' (allow) with 'connive with' (conspire).
- Misspelling as 'connive' (one 'n').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the meaning of 'connive'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Connive at' means to secretly allow wrongdoing by ignoring it. 'Connive with' means to conspire or plot actively with someone else.
Yes, in modern usage it almost always carries a strong negative connotation of dishonesty, secrecy, and moral failing.
Extremely rarely. Historical or poetic usage might soften it slightly (e.g., 'conniving with fate'), but in contemporary English it is firmly negative.
'Conniving' is the present participle of the verb 'connive', but it is very commonly used as an adjective (e.g., 'a conniving person').