1
as in frays
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 solves
to find an answer for through reasoning
unraveled the mystery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unravels
What initially appears to be a fresh start soon unravels into a dangerous game of secrets, manipulation, and shifting power dynamics.
—
Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Set in 1970s America, as television tightens its grip on American culture, veteran anchorman Howard Beale unravels live on air.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2026
In The Drama, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson portray a couple whose relationship unravels days before their wedding.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
The film centres on the owner of a failing furniture chain whose insurance scam unravels catastrophically on the eve of his daughter’s wedding, leaving him scrambling to keep his family oblivious, avoid prison and salvage the celebration.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
This spontaneous journey took me to Andalucía, the southernmost region of the Iberian Peninsula, with natural beauty that unravels like a cinematic masterpiece.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
In a riveting story, published in this week’s issue, Ava Kofman unravels the mystery of Guojun and Silvia’s strange and troubling project.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The Night Of unravels the yarn with lurid details and lots of plot twists.
—Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Finn Bennett unravels Prince Aerion's unique brand of Mad Targaryen on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Denise Petski, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Set in 1970s America, as television tightens its grip on American culture, veteran anchorman Howard Beale unravels live on air.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2026
In The Drama, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson portray a couple whose relationship unravels days before their wedding.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
The film centres on the owner of a failing furniture chain whose insurance scam unravels catastrophically on the eve of his daughter’s wedding, leaving him scrambling to keep his family oblivious, avoid prison and salvage the celebration.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026
This spontaneous journey took me to Andalucía, the southernmost region of the Iberian Peninsula, with natural beauty that unravels like a cinematic masterpiece.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
In a riveting story, published in this week’s issue, Ava Kofman unravels the mystery of Guojun and Silvia’s strange and troubling project.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The Night Of unravels the yarn with lurid details and lots of plot twists.
—Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Finn Bennett unravels Prince Aerion's unique brand of Mad Targaryen on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unravels
Verb
-
This particular aspect of the show frays the gripping tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Conjuring the troubled inner life of a young, beautiful and successful Buenos Aires fashion designer with an uncommon mix of stylistic rigor and feeling, the film frays your nerves.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Niantic Spatial’s Visual Positioning System, or VPS, solves a problem that has quietly stunted the autonomous delivery industry.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
-
No such luck with Imperfect Women, which languishes in the same genre space but is perfectly obvious in comparison, a series that solves its mystery halfway through the season but still keeps going.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tolerance for Ambiguity Literature rarely resolves cleanly.—
Stephanie Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Norovirus typically resolves quickly and, in most healthy adults, lasts one to three days, according to the CDC.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The film, without proving didactic, untangles the complications of finding appropriate care for someone with her cognitive disabilities, as Emily and Bob struggle with a healthcare system that isn’t set up to support people like her.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Moana answers the ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with Maui on an unforgettable quest to restore prosperity to her people.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2026
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After the crew answers a distress signal and brings an alien life form back with them, their vessel becomes a trap, its corridors narrowing as the creature moves through the shadows.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Plus, blurs pores, smooths texture, and keeps your makeup intact for 12 hours.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
9 Mar. 2026
-
As connection-building Venus activates your 3rd House of Communication, your inventive approach smooths discussions.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The move undoes restrictions that were previously implemented by former Attorney General Merrick Garland starting in 2022.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Reversing the voltage undoes the process.—
Perri Thaler,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unravels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unravels. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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