to unknot

Examples

• All

• This will take a lot of the edge off your fury, and humor can always be relied on to help unknot a tense situation.

  Blog text (17)

• Turns him, unknots his tie, unbuttons his collar.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Sarath was a man "who was efficient in his privacy, who would never unknot himself for anyone" (54).

  Academic text (2008)

• In Lester's, Willie unknots her handkerchief and takes out the change.

  Fiction book (1991)

• INT. HALLWAY: Monty unknots the plastic bag and dumps the ice.

  Fiction book (2002)

• She hesitates, then kneels beside him on the tile and unknots the puzzle of his limbs.

  Fiction book (1992)

• After struggling for several minutes, he finally managed to unknot the tangled fishing line.

• She carefully unknotted the scarf from her hair before putting it back around her neck.

• To release the tension, he had to unknot the rope that had become twisted around the pole.

Synonyms

U

to untie

vsto unknot

91 1.0

Make a knot or lace loose by undoing it

uses loosening of tied loops rather than only releasing a fastening

U

to unravel

vsto unknot

38 4.3

To come apart into threads, like a rope or cloth

involves controlled loosening of tied loops rather than fibers coming apart on their own

U

to undo

vsto unknot

21 1.3

Unfasten something that is tied or fastened

is specific to loosening tied loops rather than general unfastening or unwrapping

S

to straighten out

vsto unknot

11 2.9

To make something free of bends, twists, or knots

focuses on loosening tied loops, not just removing bends or shape issues

U

to untangle

vsto unknot

10 3.5

To separate threads or cords that are twisted together

is more about loosening tied loops rather than general fiber tangles

U

to unwind

vsto unknot

5 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

is used for opening tied loops rather than only reversing winding

U

to unfasten

vsto unknot

5 3.4

To open something by undoing a button or zipper

focuses on tied loops and rope bindings rather than general fastener release

U

to unbind

vsto unknot

3 6.4

To free something by untying ropes or cords

is about loosening tied loops specifically rather than general release from restraints

U

to untwist

vsto unknot

2 3.7

To make something that is twisted become straight

focuses on opening tied loops rather than only reversing twists

D

to disentangle

vsto unknot

1 5.3

To free something twisted and knotted, like a cord

focuses on loosening tied loops to make them come apart and straight

U

to untwine

vsto unknot

1 7.4

To separate things that are twisted together, like cables or yarn

applies to loosening tied loops rather than merely separating twisted strands

U

to unsnarl

vsto unknot

1 7.6

To free something from a tangle, like knots in rope or wire

deals with chaotic, messy tangles rather than neat tied loops

U

to unloose (a) knot

vsto unknot

• Archaic

5.9

To untie a knot so it comes apart

uses broader untangling methods rather than only simple loosening

U

to unlash

vsto unknot

7.4

Untie rope or straps that hold something in place

applies generally to tied loops rather than only lashings used to secure objects

Antonyms

K

to knot

5 1.0

To tie rope or string so it holds

K

to knot

2 6.5

To make something tangled and difficult to understand

How Untangled

to unravel

38 4.3

to unknot

1 5.1

to untangle

10 3.5

to loosen

88 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology