unravel

verb

ˌən-ˈra-vəl How to pronounce unravel (audio)
Definition of unravelnext
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

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.
Recent Examples of unravel While recent developments do not necessarily mean that the AI boom is beginning to unravel, the debate is entering another phase, Sunil Tirumalai at UBS Global Research wrote in a recent note. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026 The full record includes real accomplishments, like restoring a depleted franchise to playoff relevance, attracting Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, adding James Harden and recovering substantial draft capital after that era unraveled. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026 Investors need to weigh the potential diversification benefit from bonds based on the October action versus a scenario in which AI does not unravel the economy. — Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026 Those plans unraveled after a dispute over Israel and an outside group’s campaign advertisement escalated into a public exchange of criticism between the rivals. — Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unravel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unravel
  1. fray
  2. solve
  3. untangle
  4. resolve
  5. disentangle
  6. answer
  7. untwist
  8. unsnarl
Verb
  • The veil between this world and the next is thin and frayed throughout Specky Clark.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026
  • As the money piled up, the relationships between the company’s early team—including Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, Jakub Pachocki, Mira Murati, and Dario and Daniela Amodei—began to fray.
    — Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of fray
Verb
  • Kotlikoff defended his leadership, arguing that replacing him would do little to solve complex problems and could damage Cornell’s reputation.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • An 18-year-old mathematical problem concerning the limits of quantum computing may finally have been solved in just three days.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of solve
Verb
  • Untangling the mystery Betelgeuse has long been known as a variable star, and recent breakthroughs are helping astronomers untangle its erratic behavior.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Alberto learns that his grandfather—whom his mother, Teresa (Lola Dueñas), was bitterly estranged from and never introduced her son to—has recently died and left him a curious inheritance, a mystery that needs untangling.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of untangle
Verb
  • Congress should fund that capacity and require clear schedules for resolving interrupted awards and disbursing recovery support.
    — Carole LaBonne, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Differences with Iran over its nuclear program remain the thorniest issue and one that Trump insists must be resolved as part of any deal meant to end the more than 8-month-old war.
    — Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of resolve
Verb
  • The researchers discovered that the nuclear spin could be flipped even when the electron and nuclear spins were largely disentangled.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
  • But a big surprise comes from disentangling the income statement.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of disentangle
Verb
  • Purdue answered with Townsend's 30-yard TD run as the teams were settling down from two shoving matches that resulted in offsetting personal foul calls.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Make universities answer for breaking their free-speech promises.
    — Ilya Shapiro, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of answer
Verb
  • If the testicle is not untwisted within hours, it can be lost.
    — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • Daily untwisted the beer bottle cap, poured it into his shoe, and took a healthy swig, standing up for dramatic effect.
    — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
Definition of untwist
Verb
  • How to unsnarl the emotions that play tug-of-war with our souls?
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025
  • During the recent supply-chain crisis, XPO helped unsnarl bottlenecks for customers in several industries.
    — Joann S. Lublin, Time, 27 Nov. 2022
Definition of unsnarl

Browse Nearby Words

unquietness
unravel
unraveled
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Cite this Entry

“Unravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unravel. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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