How to Memorize

construe - understand

Analysis

When you interpret or try to make sense of something, you ‘construe’ its meaning. Essentially, it is an educated assumption made from the evidence available to you. Its opposite is ‘misconstrue’, which means to wrongly interpret something.

Example(s)

1. If Fiona is not careful, people will construe her careful consideration as indecision.

2. I was only trying to be helpful, but I think my actions were construed as interfering by the others.

3. My colleague misconstrued my constructive criticism as a personal attack and took great offence.