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
What begins as a brief detour spirals into a surreal escape where time, desire, and reality begin to unravel.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2025
As dark secrets unravel, their alliance is tested, forcing them to confront the limits of justice and their own morality.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
Would a courtroom defeat unravel Trump's trade deals?
—Jan Wolfe, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2025
And the assumptions that supported its premium are unraveling with it.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2025
As dark secrets unravel, their alliance is tested, forcing them to confront the limits of justice and their own morality.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
Would a courtroom defeat unravel Trump's trade deals?
—Jan Wolfe, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2025
And the assumptions that supported its premium are unraveling with it.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unravel
Verb
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Once it was fully distributed, the network enjoyed only a brief peak period before the pay-TV bundle started to fray due to cord-cutting and the streaming revolution, making traditional network assets less appealing to their owners.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
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Bonds between the United States and Europe, which Botstein planned to honor, have also frayed.—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, the settlements have not solved all the Teamsters’ criticisms.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
12 Aug. 2025
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Connecticut’s shortage of more than 90,000 affordable units won’t be solved by freezing rents.—
Ben Proto,
Hartford Courant,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But doing so would require loosening the zoning restrictions that choke new housing construction, and untangling the web of air rights, environmental reviews, noise ordinances, and traffic studies which keeps poor families penned in place.—
Idrees Kahloon,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
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Even before the credits start to unspool, Star Wars fashion, director Richard Lester lets fly with a series of slapstick sight gags that pile disaster on disaster until only Superman himself can untangle the mess.—
Arthur Knight,
HollywoodReporter,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Even in these situations, Purcell advises that the first step a homeowner should take is to communicate their concerns to their neighbor in hopes of resolving the issue.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
15 Aug. 2025
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That might mean remaking a drink, offering an alternative, or finding another way to resolve an issue.—
Jill Schulman,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Making use of twin studies, researchers are able to disentangle the impact of genetics from the environment.—
Philip Salter,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
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As the show progresses, the book morphs into a potent examination of self-objectification, of the existential tedium of work, and of the disorientation produced by living in a world where what is genuine and what is performance are difficult to disentangle.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Autumn Hill will hold a town hall meeting to answer families' questions.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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Trump is a constant presence on cable news, answering questions while signing executive orders in the Oval Office, or holding extended press gaggles on the White House lawn or aboard Air Force One.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Twist hair onto the barrel, holding for a few seconds near the root, and then untwist.—
Claire Sullivan,
WWD,
3 Sep. 2019
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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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What’s more, giving yourself space to rest and introspect could help you unsnarl a problem that’s been weighing you down lately.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2022
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Supply chains have started to unsnarl, and commodity prices for oil and some grains have dipped after surging amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.—
Jeanna Smialek,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Unravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unravel. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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