as in to interpret
to make plain or understandable
the role of the justices of the Supreme Court in construing the constitution
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Recent Examples of construe
It could be construed as inviting an American military intervention.
—
Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Bowie this week was advised by the city attorney’s office that she had been seen conversing with the Taylors in the hallway outside the council chambers, which could be construed as stepping outside of her role as a neutral party in an appeals hearing.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 11 Sep. 2025
About the above, this should in no way be construed as a call for wind, nuclear, hydrogen, and any other source of power to receive governmental blessings any more than oil should.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But maybe Stafford’s absence at the start of training camp could even be construed as a blessing in disguise.
—Dan Lovi, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for construe
Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Bowie this week was advised by the city attorney’s office that she had been seen conversing with the Taylors in the hallway outside the council chambers, which could be construed as stepping outside of her role as a neutral party in an appeals hearing.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 11 Sep. 2025
About the above, this should in no way be construed as a call for wind, nuclear, hydrogen, and any other source of power to receive governmental blessings any more than oil should.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But maybe Stafford’s absence at the start of training camp could even be construed as a blessing in disguise.
—Dan Lovi, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for construe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for construe
Verb
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Fireworks were also a story this season, interpreted as embroideries or opulent crystal decorations.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
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Some experts interpret this narrative to mean that a man is only valued when his sensitive, soft, and compassionate side is suppressed.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Officials from Line by Lion Publications also took to Facebook to dispel the rumors and clarify that Gilbert is in good care.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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Others echoed similar sentiments, demanding Parker clarify the meaning of her comment and apologize.—
Amanda McCoy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shot on location surrounded by her horses, the campaign illustrates elevated pieces designed for today’s modern wardrobe, and shows Springsteen in her truest from.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
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These statistics illustrate the trend of how Americans are starting to delay major milestones like getting married, adopting a pet, buying a house, and having children for a wide variety of reasons, namely owing to inflation and the cost of living.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Reliever Luke Weaver melted down again, and then seemed lost trying to explain it postgame.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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In the show, Gein strikes Henry with a piece of wood, then drags his body into the woods and stages a brush fire to explain Henry's death.—
JR Radcliffe,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By night, a small group of protesters – sometimes a dozen or fewer – have demonstrated outside the building.—
Conrad Wilson,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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Western Hills demonstrated diversity in scoring by utilizing a variety of plays and players throughout the night to extend the lead.—
Elijah Flowers,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Idles’s songs explicate the social and moral turmoil that youthful protesters can’t put into words, but the band’s energetic live performances and enthusiastic crowds make sense of what otherwise look like ideological whims.—
Armond White,
National Review,
7 May 2025
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Aided by its curious title, The Courage To Be Disliked is a parabolic conversation between a youth and a philosopher designed to explicate the intersection of Greek philosophy and Adlerian psychology.—
Tim Maurer,
Forbes,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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McLellan’s work also helped elucidate why D25 was so much more potent than palivizumab at preventing infection.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
23 Sep. 2025
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The foreign minister’s comments were confusing, but his deputy elucidated them in much clearer terms about the government’s self-conception.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Construe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/construe. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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