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
But after a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) calls upon Blanc to unravel the logic-defying mystery.
—
Shania Russell, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2025
As Bloomberg reported, Nestlé, Kohl's, and even Astronomer's former CEO, caught on a stadium kiss cam, illustrates how quickly reputations can unravel when what's done in private is exposed to the spotlight.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
In attempting to hide her eating disorder, Maddie begins to unravel.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Now that safety net is unraveling.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Shania Russell, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2025
As Bloomberg reported, Nestlé, Kohl's, and even Astronomer's former CEO, caught on a stadium kiss cam, illustrates how quickly reputations can unravel when what's done in private is exposed to the spotlight.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
In attempting to hide her eating disorder, Maddie begins to unravel.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Now that safety net is unraveling.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unravel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unravel
Verb
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What was once envisioned as a vital partnership of the 21st century is fraying—and becoming another source of uncertainty in a world order that seems to be unraveling.—
Vaibhav Vats,
The Atlantic,
10 Sep. 2025
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Ethiopia to inaugurate Africa’s largest dam, despite opposition Ethiopia will tomorrow inaugurate Africa’s largest dam, a major source of electricity and national pride for the country, but which threatens to fray ties with nations downstream.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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New technology can solve crimes faster, safer, and less expensively than ever before.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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In this case, just adding one molecule at the interface solved a problem that’s been blocking dual-function indoor devices for years.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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How do countries untangle themselves from waves of political violence?—
Arie Perliger,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
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Each salmon must be untangled from the net one by one.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Good customer service platforms will also use AI to listen in on conversations and provide human agents with data and prompts to quickly answer questions and resolve problems.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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San Diego City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell has admitted violating city record-keeping rules during her 2022 re-election campaign and agreed to pay a $300 fine to resolve the case brought by the San Diego Ethics Commission.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Claude can’t disentangle her years-ago affair with Mathias from feelings of self-recrimination and guilt, and seesaws between anger and seduction.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
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The Justice Department has disavowed its role in his indictment, which led to a four-month stay in a minimum-security prison, but Navarro argued the department cannot disentangle itself from the charge that led to his imprisonment.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That was a 12-play, 75-yard drive for the Razorbacks to answer the Rebels' first score.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
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Kirk was answering an audience question about mass shootings when the bullet struck his neck, causing students and visitors to flee in panic.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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It’s got a rubber bumper around the upper rim that makes the lid a breeze to untwist and a protective bumper at the base that keeps it from easily toppling over.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appétit,
6 Aug. 2024
Verb
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During the recent supply-chain crisis, XPO helped unsnarl bottlenecks for customers in several industries.—
Joann S. Lublin,
Time,
27 Nov. 2022
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Construction is beginning on a major railroad project on Chicago’s South Side that officials hope will unsnarl a key freight rail choke point, boost Metra service and improve conditions for drivers, pedestrians and residents in the area.—
Sarah Freishtat,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Unravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unravel. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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