to unravel

Examples

• All

• The very fabric of our society would begin to unravel.

  On the Basis of Sex (2018)

• Don't start pulling on that string or the whole fabric of our world will unravel.

  The Walker (2007)

• The sector of the economy that seems likely to unravel first is food.

  Academic text (2003)

• Boy gets up and begins to unravel the locks, starting at the top.

  Fiction book (1998)

• So the system is is unraveling right now.

  Shawn Ryan Show

• Because when things start to unravel, the model of masculinity is get your stuff together and figure it out.

• I think the rope is unraveling.

  3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994)

• In other words, although globalization has passed its peak, it is unlikely to unravel completely.

  Academic text (2007)

• People wept, people shouted and people were really worried that the union was going to unravel and fall apart.

• A few weeks after surgery, Noah bent down over his patient's head to unravel the bandages.

  Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

B

to break up

vsto unravel

162 2.7

Separate something into smaller pieces

is about threads or woven material separating into individual strands

C

to come apart

vsto unravel

50 3.1

To break into pieces or fall into separate parts

is more specific to threads separating into parts rather than general breaking

B

to break apart

vsto unravel

46 3.0

To separate into pieces, for example a machine or a group

refers specifically to threads or fibers splitting into smaller elements

U

to unwind

vsto unravel

15 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

is about threads or fabric splitting into pieces rather than just loosening

U

to untangle

vsto unravel

13 3.5

To separate threads or cords that are twisted together

emphasizes actual splitting of material into parts rather than mere untangling

U

to untwist

vsto unravel

3 3.7

To make something that is twisted become straight

describes material breaking into threads or parts rather than mere straightening

U

to unspool

vsto unravel

2 6.3

To unwind thread or tape from a spool

is about threads separating into parts rather than controlled unwinding

T

to tease apart

vsto unravel

2 7.0

To gently pull apart fibers or threads to separate them

is a broader split of material into parts, not always careful work

D

to disentangle

vsto unravel

2 5.3

To free something twisted and knotted, like a cord

involves actual thread separation or coming apart rather than just freeing

U

to unweave

vsto unravel

1 8.6

To take apart threads that form cloth or a basket

is the general act of threads separating into parts or strands

R

to ravel

vsto unravel

1 6.5

To untangle threads or cords that are twisted together

focuses more widely on threads coming apart, not only untangling

U

to unstitch

vsto unravel

1 6.3

To pull out the thread used to join pieces of cloth or close a cut

refers more generally to threads or fabric coming apart

U

to unpick

vsto unravel

1 6.4

To remove stitches from fabric by taking out the thread

is broader and applies to threads separating in many ways

U

to uncoil from

vsto unravel

1 5.4

To come out of a tight roll or curl

focuses more on threads separating or falling into parts than uncoiling

R

to ravel out

vsto unravel

1 6.7

To separate twisted threads or make a confused situation clear

is narrower on physical thread separation rather than abstract clarification

U

to untwine

vsto unravel

1 7.4

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

covers general thread separation, not only undoing twists

U

to unknit

vsto unravel

1 8.0

To undo a sweater or other item made from yarn to reuse the yarn

covers any way threads or fibers come apart or separate

R

to run

vsto unravel

1 7.9

To develop a long narrow line where knitted fabric comes undone

is broader, covering many ways threads can separate or fall apart

U

to unsew

vsto unravel

8.4

To remove stitches from cloth or clothing

applies to any separation into threads or parts, not only sewn items

Antonyms

R

to ravel

1 8.4

To make a situation or story more confusing

Idioms

U

to unravel the mystery

8 5.2

To make a difficult or confusing problem clear

How Intact

to hold together

170 3.4

to fray

18 4.2

to unravel

53 4.3

to fall apart

243 2.8

to disintegrate

50 5.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology