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
The story of a Louisville man charged in connection to the murder of his fiancée had not fully unraveled when he was acquitted in 1991.
—
Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Oct. 2025
The more veteran pop singer’s relationship with touring began unraveling long before the collaboration was released in 2020.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025
His facade unraveled in late 1957 when a local hardware store owner went missing, leading authorities to Gein's door.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Negotiations toward this aim progressed under the Biden administration, which tied such a deal to the kingdom agreeing to establish ties with Israel, but unraveled after Hamas' October 7, 2023, surprise attack on Israel sparked a regional conflict.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Oct. 2025
The more veteran pop singer’s relationship with touring began unraveling long before the collaboration was released in 2020.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025
His facade unraveled in late 1957 when a local hardware store owner went missing, leading authorities to Gein's door.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Negotiations toward this aim progressed under the Biden administration, which tied such a deal to the kingdom agreeing to establish ties with Israel, but unraveled after Hamas' October 7, 2023, surprise attack on Israel sparked a regional conflict.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 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 5 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share