How to Use construe in a Sentence

construe

verb
  • The way the court construes various words has changed over time.
  • All the caveats shouldn't be construed to mean the match was devoid of meaning, though.
    — Pat Brennan, Cincinnati.com, 29 Jan. 2020
  • That could be construed as not wanting to finish second in the group.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026
  • The map doesn’t just list objects that would be construed as of military use.
    — Erik Lacitis, The Seattle Times, 1 June 2018
  • In the first, the perpetrator is a man who could be construed as a monster.
    — Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026
  • The latter is clearly a contract play, while the former could be construed as one.
    — Albert Breer, SI.com, 8 Mar. 2018
  • Nothing here should be construed as legal advice.
    — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Never dig or trim plants on the other side of the fence, which could be construed as trespassing.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Yet his applause and acknowledgement of their song might have been construed as thanks and farewell.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Suter said Clark’s departure should not be construed as a sign of weakness in the union.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Bassett’s skills have often been construed on lines of strength and intellect.
    — Vulture, 16 Mar. 2023
  • This time my arrival to the hospital is not construed as that of a visitor who needs to sign in.
    — Anna Lea Hand, Longreads, 3 Mar. 2020
  • This lack of callout could be construed as a form of acquiescence that the delusion is apt.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Not all clergy in Australia agree on how broadly to construe what is covered by the seal.
    — Rob Taylor and, WSJ, 3 Aug. 2018
  • In isolation, of course, that could be construed as negative.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026
  • More broadly construed, this is a space in which pluralistic design can take place.
    — Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • James’ comments were construed in some circles as campaigning for Davis.
    — Brett Martel, The Seattle Times, 29 Jan. 2019
  • In past seasons, a ticket to a Deer Park game may have been construed as a punishment.
    — Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, 25 Mar. 2018
  • There will be constant pressure to seek statements that may be construed as political.
    — James Stavridis, Time, 16 Apr. 2018
  • Nor should it be construed as a measurement of the stock market valuation.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2018
  • Smartphones trained people to clutch computers, construing them as a part of their very beings.
    — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2017
  • In the face of an economic crisis that is (once again) devastating the young, it could be construed as a slap in their faces.
    — Alex Pareene, The New Republic, 10 Apr. 2020
  • But to the other, this is often construed as coldness or indifference.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • In what could be construed as a haunting nod to the dangers of police work, the slab has room at the bottom for additional names.
    — Kim Chatelain, NOLA.com, 1 May 2018
  • All words in this Agreement will be construed to be of such gender or number as the circumstances require.
    — oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023
  • The match kicks off 45 minutes after the others, which could be construed as a move to try to spread the demand on the network.
    — Alex Webb | Bloomberg, Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019
  • On the other hand, their work with athletes could be construed as recruitment for a particular school.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 May 2026
  • In his ruling, Wingate argued that the law was unclear and could be construed to be enforced unevenly.
    — Miriam Waldvogel, The Hill, 21 July 2025
  • That means when there is a cap on how long a college athlete can play, develop skills and earn money, that cap could be construed as price-fixing.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Still, the decision to mediate should not be construed as a settlement or a sign that a settlement nears.
    — Michael McCann, SI.com, 21 June 2019

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'construe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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