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
Relevance
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
When a contract’s plain language expressly states that a clause is not limiting, a court should not construe the clause as a limitation.
—
ArsTechnica, 17 Mar. 2026
That said, its capacity to pass laws is constrained when the Guardian Council construes them as contradicting or conflicting with the constitution and religion.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
There is also substantial precedent indicating that public university employment is an area reserved to the states, as well as potential First Amendment problems if a prohibition on athlete employment was construed as interfering with speech or expression.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Signs and posters must be under 2 feet by 3 feet, may not be attached to a pole or stick, and bear no message that may be construed as offensive.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for construe
ArsTechnica, 17 Mar. 2026
That said, its capacity to pass laws is constrained when the Guardian Council construes them as contradicting or conflicting with the constitution and religion.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
There is also substantial precedent indicating that public university employment is an area reserved to the states, as well as potential First Amendment problems if a prohibition on athlete employment was construed as interfering with speech or expression.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Signs and posters must be under 2 feet by 3 feet, may not be attached to a pole or stick, and bear no message that may be construed as offensive.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for construe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for construe
Verb
-
Because in tension, leadership is no longer interpreted.—
Kimberly S. Reed,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Warren said his studies shouldn’t be interpreted as the final word on the matter, and should prompt additional research.—
Kaan Ozcan,
NBC news,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The administration committee clarified key category placements that could have an effect this year’s contenders.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Neither Shelbayh, the tournament nor the police have clarified what Shelbayh alleged to have been said to him.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
City’s second goal, which in effect ended the game, illustrated both.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Through a blend of archival recordings and contemporary interviews, the series illustrates how the church became a sanctuary for its community, honoring both their faith and queerness while fostering joy and connection during a time of profound grief.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mariam explained that she’d been admitted to Bronx Science through a program called Discovery, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds whose test scores fell just below the school’s cutoff line.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Could the seizures explain Al-Hashimi’s moments of forgetfulness that Robby has been curious about during his shift?—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Griffin lander will demonstrate its ability to land with no official NASA payload, but will touch down on Mons Mouton near the western rim of Nobile crater close to the lunar south pole.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
In the competitive landscape, the model is expected to go head-to-head with rivals such as the Geely Galaxy M9, a large plug-in hybrid SUV that has already demonstrated strong early market traction with more than 11,000 deliveries in just the first two months of the year.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gender presentation as a theme is suggested, rather than explicated, by the yin-yang survival modes pursued by Lady and her oldest friend Pinky (Amanda Oruh), the other girl in the opening sequence.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Haidt, who previously explicated many of his thoughts about Gen Z in the New York Times bestseller The Anxious Generation, used a powerful metaphor to explain the neurological consequences of this change: tree roots.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The group further elucidated that the program should chiefly prioritize reuse and repair, with retail and community-based organizations responsible for promoting and providing visibility for repair services.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Viral essays are tapping into fears of robots turning on their creators—a trope dating back centuries—rather than elucidating present economic conditions.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Construe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/construe. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
