construe

verb

kən-ˈstrü How to pronounce construe (audio)
Definition of construenext
as in to interpret
to make plain or understandable the role of the justices of the Supreme Court in construing the constitution

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of construe This material should not be construed as a recommendation, or advice or an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any investment. — Katie Stockton, CNBC, 13 July 2026 This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, or psychological advice. — Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 That could be construed as not wanting to finish second in the group. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026 Making prosecution more efficient Case dismissals triggered by a lack of resources could be construed as the recalibration of a historically punitive legal system. — Rebecca Dunlea, The Conversation, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for construe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for construe
  1. explain
  2. clarify
  3. illustrate
  4. demonstrate
  5. interpret
  6. explicate
  7. elucidate
Verb
  • Neither the governor's office nor Wilson's office has explained why those two sections were left out between the May draft and the final trailer bill.
    — Julie Watts, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Here, The Athletic explains the latest situation in terms of both outgoings and incomings at St James’ Park.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Open Doors helped clarify a lot of things, so the next step is to sit with that and push the project into a solid draft.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2026
  • District leaders used them to rethink instruction, align classroom practice with system supports, build capacity among school supervisors and principals, and clarify what students should know and be able to do.
    — Michael Casserly, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of clarify
Verb
  • Something extraordinary these episodes illustrate, in our view, is the vulnerability of America’s highly interconnected fresh-food supply chain, in which one grower or supplier problem can ripple astonishingly far.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • One of Schore's simplest techniques illustrates how quickly emotional reactions can redirect attention.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of illustrate
Verb
  • Shipping traffic remains severely restricted, demonstrating that many shipowners are not willing to risk a possible Iranian attack and underscoring Tehran’s ongoing leverage over Hormuz.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Government agencies should be expected to demonstrate the same commitment to competence, transparency, and adherence to the law.
    — Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of demonstrate
Verb
  • Basically, captioning provides access to words, while interpreting provides access to the message’s linguistic, cultural, emotional, and contextual meaning.
    — Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • For decades, companies have asked individual sellers to enter projections into CRM, then asked managers to interpret them, then scheduled calls where leadership negotiates a number that everyone knows is partly theater.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of interpret
Verb
  • The exhibit mostly circumvents contextualizing the architectural details of the office, and rather aims to explicate the man who worked within it.
    — Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2026
  • His paragon, surprisingly, was Adorno, who, notwithstanding his mandarin prose, often explicated his ideas on radio and television.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Definition of explicate
Verb
  • He is slated to come on Closing Bell Overtime this week to elucidate his outlook.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • And in many cases, the same justifications elucidated by Douglass remain.
    — Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
Definition of elucidate

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constructs
construe
construed
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Cite this Entry

“Construe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/construe. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of construe for Spanish Speakers

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