1
as in to fray
to separate the various strands of
it took us forever to unravel the jumbled mass of Christmas tree lights
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to solve
to find an answer for through reasoning
unraveled the mystery
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unravel
One swing, one timely hit, can change the trajectory of a series, just as an error or inferior defense can unravel a series.
—
Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
But things start to unravel when Abbie and Leila become determined to break free from the facility.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
As his Legacy of Lies boasts unravelled, writer Anu Verma sued the businessman, alleging fraudulent misrepresentation.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
With the first two episodes of season four now streaming, viewers are beginning to see how Stoudt and her writers room unraveled their Bradley knot, and upped the ante for every other female character.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Annie Heilbrunn, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
But things start to unravel when Abbie and Leila become determined to break free from the facility.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
As his Legacy of Lies boasts unravelled, writer Anu Verma sued the businessman, alleging fraudulent misrepresentation.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
With the first two episodes of season four now streaming, viewers are beginning to see how Stoudt and her writers room unraveled their Bradley knot, and upped the ante for every other female character.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unravel
Verb
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The nation’s vaccination apparatus was already fraying before the rise of MAHA.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
24 Sep. 2025
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In response to fraying ties with Washington, South Africa has turned to Beijing, with Chinese firms this week announcing hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in industries including mining and manufacturing in Africa’s biggest economy.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Who did it, how, and why, are the questions that both the protagonist and the readers try to solve simultaneously, normally without any expectations of realism.—
Anders de la Motte,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
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This is an important first step to restoring trust for people in our democracy and its ability to solve our problems.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This premiere has a lot to take care of, introducing new threats while untangling the messy fallout from the season finale.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
17 Sep. 2025
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With the help of resourceful Marie Kreutz (Franka Potente), Bourne evades capture from the CIA — namely data analyst Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) and Deputy Director Ward Abbott (Brian Cox) — while untangling his involvement in the deadly Operation Treadstone.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Guard De'Anthony Melton and veteran big man Al Horford are expected to sign with the team, but only after the Kuminga situation is resolved.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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Grace is not weakness but resolve, the Charleston families believed, and politics, too, depends on a willingness to coax one another toward better ground.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Claude can’t disentangle her years-ago affair with Mathias from feelings of self-recrimination and guilt, and seesaws between anger and seduction.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
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The Justice Department has disavowed its role in his indictment, which led to a four-month stay in a minimum-security prison, but Navarro argued the department cannot disentangle itself from the charge that led to his imprisonment.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After junior Zander Govostes drilled a 22-yard field goal to push Xaverian’s lead to 10-0 later in the frame, Springfield Central (2-1) answered.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
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Indeed, the answer to the question Alan Sparks raised about what happens to all of the money flowing through the county government is one that even local authorities are unable, or unwilling, to answer.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In rare cases, a volvulus can partially resolve on its own if the twist or obstruction is not severe and the intestine untwists spontaneously.—
Sarah Jividen,
Health,
22 Sep. 2024
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It’s got a rubber bumper around the upper rim that makes the lid a breeze to untwist and a protective bumper at the base that keeps it from easily toppling over.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appétit,
6 Aug. 2024
Verb
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During the recent supply-chain crisis, XPO helped unsnarl bottlenecks for customers in several industries.—
Joann S. Lublin,
Time,
27 Nov. 2022
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Construction is beginning on a major railroad project on Chicago’s South Side that officials hope will unsnarl a key freight rail choke point, boost Metra service and improve conditions for drivers, pedestrians and residents in the area.—
Sarah Freishtat,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Unravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unravel. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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