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 The policy also says nothing in it will be construed or applied in a way that violates state or federal law requiring compliance or cooperation with lawful law enforcement activity or lawful requests for information. — Emily McLeod, CBS News, 14 July 2026 The information provided is for educational purposes and should not be construed as financial, investment or trading advice. — Usa Today, USA Today, 14 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 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
  • Lanterns wastes little time explaining this backstory ad nauseam and instead creates an immediately inviting dynamic between him and Hal, who comes to him demanding information on Manhunters.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Cieloween explained that the moves shown by participants vary widely.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Ask a clarifying question, keep your response simple, and save the deeper processing for a space that actually feels safe.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Ask about the fee, set a payment structure, and clarify the boundary kindly.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of clarify
Verb
  • As illustrated in this chart, following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in late February, both WTI crude oil prices and US retail gas prices surged in tandem.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The agreement also illustrates a challenge facing advanced nuclear developers.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of illustrate
Verb
  • The South Korean auteur has directed six movies since 1997, each one demonstrating his literary sensibilities and keen eye for capturing human despair.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The next step is demonstrating consistent color removal and fiber-quality retention at larger scale, with chemical consumption, wastewater quality and process control among the principal scale-up considerations.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of demonstrate
Verb
  • The look at Anthony Bourdain’s early years (much of it liberally interpreted) expanded nicely after doing robust business in limited release.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 23 Aug. 2026
  • So that’s a really positive way to interpret this experience.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 23 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
  • An announcement released in May by the US Department of the Interior elucidated the conclusions reached by the museum.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 20 Aug. 2026
  • He is slated to come on Closing Bell Overtime this week to elucidate his outlook.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of elucidate

Browse Nearby Words

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 30 Aug. 2026.

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