1
as in to fray
to separate the various strands of
it took us forever to unravel the jumbled mass of Christmas tree lights
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning
unraveled the mystery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unravel
By dissolving the barrier between art and life and emphasizing the role of the viewer, Duchamp unraveled art’s claim to special status.
—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
29 June 2026
There’s also continuing disagreements that could unravel the deal.
—
Daniel Flatley,
Fortune,
28 June 2026
That script is beginning to unravel.
—
Meggen Harris,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Schlittler did allow some traffic before things unraveled in the fifth, permitting a walk and a single to start the inning.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
29 June 2026
There’s also continuing disagreements that could unravel the deal.
—
Daniel Flatley,
Fortune,
28 June 2026
That script is beginning to unravel.
—
Meggen Harris,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Schlittler did allow some traffic before things unraveled in the fifth, permitting a walk and a single to start the inning.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unravel
Verb
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Now, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton present a stark choice to voters in the race to be the next governor at a moment when public support for the state’s generous safety net is starting to fray.
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The same fear of a fraying dollar system is driving Russia and others toward bitcoin and pushing Wall Street to treat which reserve asset wins as a live question.
Verb
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Now back in King’s Landing, Corlys is distracted at best, meeting with Rhaenyra’s small council to address the crown’s nonexistent funds — the latest on a long list of problems that need solving for the new Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
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Proponents argue recordings would solve a long-standing crisis that leaves many proceedings with no verbatim record.
Verb
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The latest twist comes as Dakar seeks to untangle itself from a debt crisis that has plagued its economy since 2024, when the government uncovered billions of dollars in undisclosed loans, forcing the IMF to suspend lending.
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But Charter already has more debt coming in line for its Cox takeover, and the regulatory process for Comcast would be a nightmare to untangle (at the state level, if not the federal level), so maybe the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
Verb
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Whoever is charged with handling the issue must have the tools and authority to resolve it.
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Our study helps resolve this paradox by providing evidence that scratching also provides defense against bacterial skin infections.
Verb
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On Sunday, June 14, the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) disentangled a relatively small humpback whale after recreational boaters spotted the animal anchored in fishing gear in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary late that morning, CCS said in a press release.
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The patterns bear the hallmarks of overlapping portfolio-management strategies, often index-based and much of it likely automated, and all of it difficult to disentangle.
Verb
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The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming, ready to answer any questions guests might have about a cocktail menu that changes throughout the year.
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These businesses live or die by people answering phones, booking jobs, chasing payments and calming down upset customers.
Verb
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If the testicle is not untwisted within hours, it can be lost.
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Daily untwisted the beer bottle cap, poured it into his shoe, and took a healthy swig, standing up for dramatic effect.
Verb
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How to unsnarl the emotions that play tug-of-war with our souls?
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During the recent supply-chain crisis, XPO helped unsnarl bottlenecks for customers in several industries.
Cite this Entry
“Unravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unravel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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