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 Agatha All Along gave us a new Billy Maximoff, whose soul took over the dying body of another teen as Wanda’s spell unraveled at the end of WandaVision. — ArsTechnica, 15 Aug. 2026 There are interesting threads to unravel regarding Kara’s grief and anger, but the story she’s stranded in doesn’t have time to do that in any meaningful way. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 The 2025 miniseries, which stars Sarah Snook as a mother unraveling the cashmere mystery of her missing son, is nominated for seven Emmys. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026 Decline and legacy The Pax Mongolica began to unravel during the 14th century as cooperation among the Mongol khanates weakened. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 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
  • As the latest iteration of her signature red tresses, these braids are just like the songs on her latest studio album, Blue Island—frayed, perfectly tousled, and free-flowing.
    — Sidney Madden, VIBE.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Reconstituting the bilateral bond between the two countries, now frayed by more than a year of threats and punitive measures, will not happen overnight.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of fray
Verb
  • Still, the investigation into his murder had seemed to grow so cold that even many close to the events of that night believed the case would never be solved, much less prosecuted.
    — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • While there is no solid evidence that psychics can solve crimes, some law enforcement agencies use them when traditional leads run dry.
    — Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of solve
Verb
  • The former Bournemouth boss has been hired to untangle Liverpool’s squad.
    — Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Unfortunately, Antosca still had to untangle a complicated rights situation, which took years.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 July 2026
Definition of untangle
Verb
  • All eyes now turn towards negotiations between Iran and Oman expected to resolve how ships cross Hormuz.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • And while Ukraine has begun to resolve navigational issues with its missiles, such as the Flamingo, those weapons are still not as accurate — or as stealthy — as their Western analogues.
    — Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of resolve
Verb
  • This difference allows physicists to disentangle the exchange of electrical charge that occurs as a ruthenium-zirconium collision unfolds, tracking its propagation through the myriad new particles produced.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Systems have to be disentangled, employees moved, contracts rewritten, and corporate functions recreated.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of disentangle
Verb
  • No matter what, this brand-new defense couldn’t have asked for a better debut, though several questions still need to be answered.
    — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • What Trump should not do is keep testing variations of executive orders against a Supreme Court ruling that has already answered the central question.
    — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of unravel for Spanish Speakers

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