unravel
verb
un·rav·el
ˌən-ˈra-vəl 
unraveled; unraveling; unravels
1
a
: to disengage or separate the threads of : disentangle
b
: to cause to come apart by or as if by separating the threads of
2
: to resolve the intricacy, complexity, or obscurity of : clear up
unravel a mystery
: to become unraveled
Examples of unravel in a Sentence
Scientists are still unraveling the secrets of DNA.
Their plans unraveled when she lost her job.
His frequent absences from home caused his marriage to unravel.
I feel like my life is unraveling.
Recent Examples on the Web
Plus, its durable material prevents it from unravelling even after several wash and dry cycles, per the brand.
—
Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
The Detroit Lions’ unexpected attempt to add one of the NFL’s best interior linemen from the last decade has already unraveled.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Since that game Cincinnati has unraveled during its three-game skid.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Nov. 2025
Also on the slate is My Homicide, created by Bruce Ramsay (The Porter), a procedural about a brilliant detective haunted by his wife’s unsolved murder who teams up with an AI version of himself to solve impossible crimes and unravel the mystery that could tear them both apart.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unravel
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Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025
The Detroit Lions’ unexpected attempt to add one of the NFL’s best interior linemen from the last decade has already unraveled.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Since that game Cincinnati has unraveled during its three-game skid.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Nov. 2025
Also on the slate is My Homicide, created by Bruce Ramsay (The Porter), a procedural about a brilliant detective haunted by his wife’s unsolved murder who teams up with an AI version of himself to solve impossible crimes and unravel the mystery that could tear them both apart.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Cite this Entry
“Unravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unravel. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unravel
verb
un·rav·el
ˌən-ˈrav-əl
ˈən-
1
: to separate the threads of : disentangle
unravel a snarl
2
: solve
unravel a mystery
3
: to become unraveled
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