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
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Recent Examples of unravel
The Senate was expected to pass it soon after, but as STAT’s John Wilkerson reports, the plan unraveled as debate over ICE funding increased.
—
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
Burmese pythons have unraveled food webs for decades.
—Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Generational lies begin to unravel, and the fabric of this family slowly begins to disintegrate.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Journalists, players and sometimes even media officers have felt the force of his temper, perhaps helping to explain why some jobs have gone spectacularly well while others have unravelled quickly.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
Burmese pythons have unraveled food webs for decades.
—Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
Generational lies begin to unravel, and the fabric of this family slowly begins to disintegrate.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Journalists, players and sometimes even media officers have felt the force of his temper, perhaps helping to explain why some jobs have gone spectacularly well while others have unravelled quickly.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unravel
Verb
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In 2024, Rhett Miller was on the road with his band, Old 97’s, when his voice started to fray, showing wear and tear at both the higher and lower ends of his range.—
Stuart Miller,
Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
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The old order is fraying not because Europe is weak or complacent or guilelessly reliant on diplomatic institutions, but because authoritarian powers are increasingly willing to work together to forcefully reshape the world order.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Foster may have been a late addition to the roll-call of heroes who went on to deliver the first of three consecutive promotions under Hollywood ownership, having only come out of retirement in March 2023 to solve a goalkeeping crisis.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Genealogy investigations have had major success stories Successfully using the DNA of distant family members to profile and narrow down suspects had an extraordinarily high-profile debut in 2018, when it was used to solve the cold case of the Golden State Killer.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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His ability to untangle the rights for content, allowing it to be made, became a valuable currency.—
Tom Dotan,
Vanity Fair,
23 Feb. 2026
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The layers of deception and betrayal will feel deeply familiar to anyone who spent three seasons untangling Stephen’s lies.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Food and Drug Administration will consider whether to approve Moderna's new flu vaccine after all, resolving a dispute that had blocked the company's application for the first-of-its-kind shot.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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The 2026 Winter Games continue in Milano Cortina, and with the condom supply now restocked and set to be continuously replenished, at least one logistical challenge of the Olympics appears to be resolved.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Embedded in a patriarchal family within an oppressive society, Mrie faces the challenge of disentangling herself from both.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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Beatrice and Eugenie appear to have quietly tried to disentangle themselves from their parents’ mess.—
Lauren Said-Moorhouse,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Gu, who often answers so quickly and comprehensively, for once struggled to find the words.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Lanson Place answered the call in 2005 as one of Hong Kong’s first boutique hotels, introducing a more intimate, residential-style approach to luxury.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In a feat of precision physics, researchers from Cornell and Stanford Universities have filmed atoms twisting and untwisting in perfect sync, a choreography that unfolds in just a trillionth of a second.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Nov. 2025
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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
Verb
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How to unsnarl the emotions that play tug-of-war with our souls?—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
15 Dec. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Unravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unravel. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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