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 Still others have construed Clancy’s story as evidence for their own niche political beliefs. — Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026 Advisory services through Atomic are not to be construed as tax advice or financial planning and do not take into consideration investments that clients may hold outside of Atomic. — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026 Whatever the terminology, truth and proof in today's fractured and somewhat conspiratorial society could be construed as strange bedfellows. — Leonard David, Space.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Multigrain Bread Multigrain bread is also construed as healthy, but here, too, its nutritional composition depends on the ingredients in the dough. — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 26 July 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
  • Diesel fuel that is intended for off-road uses such as agriculture is exempt from federal and state excise taxes, and it is dyed for law enforcement purposes, the White House explained in a fact sheet.
    — NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Imagination and influence are tied together, Sherald explained.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Crash axes The UAE’s attorney general’s statement was the first time authorities have clarified the weapon the attacker used.
    — Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Later, campus administration clarified that their initial communication had been sent erroneously and the funds were being held temporarily for review.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of clarify
Verb
  • The boomer’s reckoning Voeste grew up in Dortmund, the coal-and-steel city whose fate has long illustrated the dangers of clinging to an industrial past after its economics have changed.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • This is well illustrated at Dia Beacon, where the sculpture Relatum (formerly System), 1969, sits near two paintings both titled With Winds, 1991.
    — Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of illustrate
Verb
  • There, local fishermen demonstrated their sustainable crayfish harvesting process, and as a spectacular touch, the helicopter lifted one of the crayfish tanks straight out of the ocean, giving our client a dramatic view of the abundant catch.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • French youths have been demonstrating over poor conditions at school buildings, and analysts expect unrest to intensify after a teenager’s hand was blown off by a riot police sting grenade.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of demonstrate
Verb
  • But the committee may elect to change the rules or interpret them differently.
    — Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • That includes the sphere of geopolitics, which the market interprets through the lens of oil prices and interest rates on government bonds.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 4 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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