Contrivances refer to devices, schemes, or arrangements that are intentionally designed or contrived to achieve a specific purpose, often in a somewhat artificial or complicated way. They can be physical devices, abstract concepts, or even clever tricks used to overcome obstacles or achieve a particular goal.
Contrived refers to something that is unnatural, artificial, or deliberately staged, often in a way that seems insincere or pretentious. It can also mean planned or contrived in a way that is overly complicated or artificial.