UNRAVELS Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

unravels

verb

present tense third-person singular of unravel

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

as in solves

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 unravels Interrupted by power outages, a relentlessly barking dog and the unexpected arrival of a celebrated composer, the conversation steadily unravels. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 Desperate struggles against the encroaching elements become a brief interlude before the situation unravels into a disaster of a different magnitude. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 Zendaya and Pattinson play an engaged couple whose relationship unravels after a confession over dinner. — ABC News, 24 July 2026 That’s about as pleasant as things ever get for Weir, whose sanity steadily unravels over the course of the film, culminating in one of its most potent scares. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026 Defense unravels late The Dodgers widened their lead to two runs but gave it up in the eighth on a pair of errors, including one on a sacrifice bunt. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 My new novel, Star-Crossed Summer, follows two young actors who fall in love while filming a movie set in a South Carolina beach town, only to be torn apart by fame, ambition and a secret that unravels everything. — Devon Daniels, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 Years later, Kang gets revenge by crafting a story that Mun-oh cannot turn away from, and that slowly unravels the professor’s life. — Kayti Burt, Time, 26 June 2026 The no-frills app also unravels any complex options for those who are looking for something that just keeps the sound simple. — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 23 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unravels

Verb

Conjuring the troubled inner life of a young, successful Buenos Aires fashion designer with an uncommon mix of stylistic rigor and feeling, the film frays your nerves.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
The coalition of supporters frays Still another issue is conflict within the legalization movement itself, particularly between the business and activist wings.

— William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026

Definition of frays

Verb

With just eight percent calcium, the material shows high tunability and solves a problem that has plagued the communications industry for decades.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Leaders should be asking how their own sector traditionally solves a problem, as well as who elsewhere has solved a version of it exceptionally well.

— Jen Fuller, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of solves

Verb

Bellamy and Evans’ prenup could now take center stage as the couple untangles their finances.

— Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of untangles

Verb

The printer also has several features, including self-reset, which automatically detects and resolves connectivity issues, as well as robust security to protect the printer from attacks.

— George Yang, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026
The settlement announced Wednesday resolves those cases, including the states’ ongoing trial in federal court in Oakland, and claims by the other settling states and territories.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of resolves

Verb

After a thorough cleanse and gua sha to encourage lymphatic drainage, Galina smooths on a cooling mask and leaves it to work its magic while turning her attention to my scalp.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
At its center is wild soybean extract fermented for a whopping 120 hours, a process that breaks down the ingredient's components and creates a lightweight, nourishing formula that smooths the look of skin texture and keeps excess sebum in check.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of smooths

Browse Nearby Words

unraveling

unravels

unreachable

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Style

“Unravels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unravels. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of unravels

verb

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