UNRAVELING Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

unraveling

verb

present participle of unravel

as in fraying

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

as in solving

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 unraveling But that version of events, reported by some news outlets, began unraveling when bystander videos contradicted accounts painting the immigrant as a villain, the officers as victims. — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Think of Jackie Cogan rejecting American exceptionalism in Killing Them Softly, Patrick Bateman’s unraveling mind in American Psycho, or Justine readily accepting the end of the world in Melancholia. — The Editors, Vulture, 17 July 2026 This ambiguity doesn’t feel entirely intentional, but at least Paksoy’s performance makes her character’s unraveling feel nervy and thrillingly palpable. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 11 July 2026 Latvia’s Ostapenko is playing with less pressure, but is just as prone to unraveling on court as Sabalenka has been of late. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026 The deal that built the modern internet is quietly unraveling, and most business leaders have not noticed yet. — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The center was designed as a hub for change, but as that change is debated and celebrated, the retail fabric that longtime residents have relied on is quietly unraveling. — Yunus Emre Tozal, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 To most onlookers, the contradictions may seem like confusion, bad faith or evidence that the agreement is already unraveling. — Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation, 25 June 2026 Local officials in the El Paso suburb of Socorro also announced that plans for their own facility were unraveling. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 24 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unraveling

Verb

If literacy is a key part of the American story, that narrative seems to be fraying at the edges.

— Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 23 July 2026
This is true for the reasons outlined above (lack of safety features and fraying cords), but also because the bulbs get extremely hot.

— Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 17 July 2026

Definition of fraying

Verb

Goh believes Southeast Asian cinema’s next breakthrough will depend not only on growing global interest, but also on solving longstanding financing and distribution challenges.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 24 July 2026
Lady criminals take advantage of this illegibility for their own gain—unlike lady detectives, who are preoccupied with solving crimes, helping others, and restoring justice.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

Definition of solving

Verb

The fundamental goal of the 1787 Constitution was to establish a republican form of government — and that meant disentangling the traditional powers of the monarch and placing them in different branches of government.

— David French, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
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

Definition of disentangling

Verb

Meanwhile, Rovo can handle some of the heavy lifting of triaging tickets by escalating and fully resolving them.

— John Brandon, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026
Students often receive guidance from several offices before resolving a single issue with each interaction reflecting only part of the larger picture or need.

— Chase Williams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of resolving

Verb

Supporters of undoing the current system range from former Republican Party Chair Ron Nehring to Democratic former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Trump reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah by about 90% each, undoing protections established by former presidents on public lands that are sacred among many Native Americans.

— Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 14 July 2026

Definition of undoing

Verb

Researchers will spend years untangling the two, and policymakers will be reading corridor numbers that mean less every quarter.

— Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Mike walked up and down the boat, untangling lines, re-tying lures, and helping anyone who needed it.

— Matthew Every, Outdoor Life, 8 July 2026

Definition of untangling

Browse Nearby Words

unraveled

unraveling

unravels

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“Unraveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unraveling. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of unraveling

verb

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