Synonyms of unravel

unravel

verb

ˌən-ˈra-vəl 

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

• fray
• untangle
• disentangle
• untwist
• unsnarl
• undo
• unweave
• smooth
• ravel (out)
• untwine
• unbraid
• fret
• unlay
• unwind
• straighten (out)
• unroll
• untie
• uncoil
• unlace
• unknot
• unthread
• unstring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• entangle
• snarl
• tie
• knot
• tangle
• wind
• ply
• braid
• splice
• lace
• plait

2

as in to solve

to find an answer for through reasoning

unraveled the mystery

Synonyms & Similar Words

• solve
• resolve
• answer
• decipher
• work
• figure out
• work out
• conclude
• crack
• unriddle
• decide
• break
• gather
• deduce
• puzzle (out)
• riddle (out)
• infer
• dope (out)
• untangle
• guess
• judge
• speculate
• reason
• straighten (out)
• clear (up)
• untie
• assume
• presume
• divine
• unscramble
• conjecture
• decode
• iron out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unravel

Metalpoint is delicate by comparison with ink, almost weblike; but in both cases, the drawings are unraveling clusters and skeins, with passages both tight and loose. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

In spite of Desiree's civil case unraveling in 2013, public suspicion continued to follow Terri. — Eileen Murphy, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

In Copperhead, when an undercover drug deal explodes into violence, a veteran detective is forced to team with a young federal agent to unravel the conspiracy within their elite task force. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026

Later on Saturday, Pezeshkian called on state TV for a revival of the interim deal, which was signed on June 17 but quickly unraveled amid disagreements over what had been agreed, especially ​on the status of the Strait of Hormuz. — Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026