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construe

[kuhn-stroo, kon-stroo] / kənˈstru, ˈkɒn stru /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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Circuit Court of Appeals, which he said could construe the law differently, or file a fresh lawsuit in state court.

From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024

“And if there’s an ambiguity, why would we construe it … against democracy?”

From Slate ● Feb. 8, 2024

Prosecutors routinely use it in cases where they can construe harm to the federal government.

From Reuters ● Aug. 2, 2023

I regret that my attempt to find a way to participate in the course in a manner that would have satisfied these concerns has enabled some to construe a potential conflict of interest.

From BBC ● May 24, 2023

Once he understood this, and once he could construe it as his own idea, Joe Cassano changed his mind.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

How they decide — their reasoning — might have momentous implications for how the current court construes the Constitution.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 29, 2021

What emerges on the other side of the apocalypse as “Appleseed” construes it will barely resemble what went into it.

From New York Times ● Jul. 13, 2021

As in none of your business, which often construes to “she’s fine” or “doing well” or “good,” depending on who asked.

From The New Yorker ● Mar. 4, 2019

Simon construes constitutional protection from government intrusion as controls against human listening in on phone calls or reading messages.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 12, 2013

"And he who reads had better run!" retorted Betsy, now thoroughly nettled, "if this reading construes anything I do or say into encouragement of this lawyer."

From Crestlands A Centennial Story of Cane Ridge by Mary Addams Bayne

Cliches were wielded like shields Tuesday, protecting against the imminent threat of social clips construed as bulletin board material.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

A Senedd spokesperson said no breach had been committed by the MS, although the BBC was told the presiding officer's comments could be construed as a final warning to all members.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

He implored those same liberals to look beyond the Totenkopf and dig deeper into Platner’s stated policy goals, for which he has expressed nothing that could be construed as Nazi ideology.

From Slate ● Apr. 13, 2026

Dabaie was asked by CNN whether the congressman’s comments can be construed as acknowledging that he cheated on his wife, while denying doing anything illegal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2026

“Oh. Good. Because I worry about that with Annie. That she’ll say something that could be construed as traitorous without knowing it,” says Finnick.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

In construing the meaning of an extraterrestrial dispatch, those who give it a go often try to anticipate what the message might be trying to say.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 3, 2023

"That is consistent with construing the speech and debate argument as a limited immunity like executive privilege. It also corresponds to the most important evidence from Pence," he tweeted.

From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2023

The majority opinion and two dissents featured conflicting conceptions of “textualism” in construing statutes.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 16, 2020

Justice Department lawyers contend that Judge Peter J. Messitte of United States District Court in Greenbelt, Md., has wrongly interpreted the meaning of the emoluments clauses, construing the bans against corruption far too broadly.

From New York Times ● Dec. 5, 2018

He translated fully to each group of creatures the Abbot’s message, in turn construing back to the Father Abbot their grateful thanks with pledges of help and loyalty to Redwall Abbey.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques


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