1
as in fraying
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 solving
to find an answer for through reasoning
unraveled the mystery
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Recent Examples of unraveling
Olivia Rodrigo has unveiled her unraveling.
—
Andrea Dresdale, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Having these properties taken away without recourse is effectively unraveling generations of effort.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, at home, the government is unraveling.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Like hooking up with your ex even though you’ll be left emotionally unraveling and picking up the pieces afterwards.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
The mummy delights in slowly unraveling her new host family (this is as close as the movie gets to a big idea), but not all of us are blessed with the patience of an undying Egyptian deity.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
When Floyd is found dead at a community pool surrounded by a poisonous cocktail and a vintage Playgirl magazine, two detectives (Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday) begin unraveling the bizarre chain of events that led to his death.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
The college bargain that a generation of Americans was sold (borrow money, earn a degree, join the middle class) has been quietly unraveling for 20 years.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
In Miller’s 1949 classic, Willy Loman is a struggling traveling salesman unraveling under the weight of his own expectations, chasing an American dream that no longer fits.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Andrea Dresdale, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Having these properties taken away without recourse is effectively unraveling generations of effort.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, at home, the government is unraveling.
—John Whitehead, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Like hooking up with your ex even though you’ll be left emotionally unraveling and picking up the pieces afterwards.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
The mummy delights in slowly unraveling her new host family (this is as close as the movie gets to a big idea), but not all of us are blessed with the patience of an undying Egyptian deity.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
When Floyd is found dead at a community pool surrounded by a poisonous cocktail and a vintage Playgirl magazine, two detectives (Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday) begin unraveling the bizarre chain of events that led to his death.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
The college bargain that a generation of Americans was sold (borrow money, earn a degree, join the middle class) has been quietly unraveling for 20 years.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
In Miller’s 1949 classic, Willy Loman is a struggling traveling salesman unraveling under the weight of his own expectations, chasing an American dream that no longer fits.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unraveling
Verb
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The mayor’s veto eliminated a measure to reduce public hostility at a time of toxic divisions fraying the city.—
Andrew Cuomo,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
Petrodollar takes the spotlight The OPEC exit lands on top of a petrodollar system that was already fraying at its edges.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The sheep rise to the occasion and use all the mental mystery-solving skills George and his stories have left behind.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
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The one-million-cubic-meter-level salt cavern hydrogen storage demonstration project began operation in Pingdingshan on Saturday, signaling progress in solving one of hydrogen energy’s biggest challenges.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
Verb
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The first round, announced in 2024, included projects aimed at improving traffic safety on California roads, enhancing language access to public programs for non-English speakers and answering taxpayers’ questions more efficiently.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
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All told, Friday marked Jessica Mann’s eleventh day providing trial testimony against Weinstein — having spent three days on the stand at the 2020 trial and another three answering questions before the jury last year.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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In a feat of precision physics, researchers from Cornell and Stanford Universities have filmed atoms twisting and untwisting in perfect sync, a choreography that unfolds in just a trillionth of a second.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma could be dissolved and replaced by a company focused on the public good by the end of the week, as a massive legal settlement resolving thousands of lawsuits is set to take effect.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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The United States showed little immediate enthusiasm for a new Iranian proposal that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz without resolving the impasse over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Keeping mandates, but with a new exemption On the legislative front, there was little progress on undoing mandates during the regular winter session.—
Kerry Sheridan,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
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Democrats’ narrower-than-expected but still-decisive win in Tuesday’s plebiscite undoing the commonwealth’s own truce may or may not be the end of it.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Caoodkdk Cable Organizer Instead of spending time untangling your chargers, use this organizer that will neatly store your cords and small devices in one place.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Apr. 2026
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While staff were momentarily stunned by the sheer volume of the steal, the suspect took advantage of the distraction, untangling himself from the struggle and bolting for the exit before police could arrive.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unraveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unraveling. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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