concoct

[ kon-kokt, kuhn- ]

verb (used with object)

1. to prepare or make by combining ingredients, especially in cooking:

   We concocted a meal from leftovers since no one had time to stop at the store.

2. to devise; make up; contrive:

   He'll have to concoct an excuse for his absence if he wants to keep the job.

   Synonyms: hatch, fabricate, invent

concoct

/ kənˈkɒkt /

verb

1. to make by combining different ingredients
2. to invent; make up; contrive

Derived Forms

• conˈcoctive, adjective
• conˈcocter, noun

Other Words From

• con·cocter con·coctor noun
• con·coctive adjective
• well-con·cocted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of concoct¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin concoctus (past participle of concoquere “to cook together”), equivalent to con- con- + coc-, variant stem of coquere “to boil, cook ¹ ” from Greek péptein; pepsin, peptic ) + -tus past participle ending

Word History and Origins

Origin of concoct¹

C16: from Latin concoctus cooked together, from concoquere, from coquere to cook

Example Sentences

In 2019, former employers warned Spotlight alleging that Jamie was submitting fake credits for his own clients, as well as “concocting” productions that never existed.

From BBC

Now why would the world’s richest man concoct such a strangely designed game of chance and dangle instant-millionaire status before registered voters?

From Los Angeles Times

Every time a lie is told, a denial must be concocted to protect the lie by denying that it is a lie.

From Salon

She concocts a fantasy, one that Arthur deludes himself into believing.

From Salon

"India now reserves the right to take further steps in response to these latest efforts of the Canadian Government to concoct allegations against Indian diplomats," it said.

From BBC

Related Words

• contrive
• create
• devise
• discover
• dream up
• envision
• fabricate
• hatch
• invent