If you contrive to do something difficult, you succeed in doing it. The orchestra contrived to produce some of its best playing for years
If you contrive an event or situation, you succeed in making it happen, often by tricking someone. The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of gasoline to justify price increases
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or priciple) after a mental effort; "excogitate a way to measure the speed of light"