to unravel

Examples

• All

• I work my mind, doing my best to unravel the mysteries.

  Intimate Affairs (2002)

• Well, in the last number of years, we've begun to unravel this somewhat.

• Now I have to unravel this bit by bit.

• Wow, a lot to unravel here as well.

• I spent years trying to unravel your secret, and now, suddenly, here you are.

  Philadelphia Experiment II (1993)

• And I think because of that, we're still trying to unravel history and memory in Turkey today.

• We start to unravel maybe the secrets behind her life.

  cari can read

• It's been incredibly helpful to have space to just unravel my thoughts.

  Two Hot Takes

• I had investigated it long ago, seeking to unravel its secrets to save my people.

  Fiction book (1991)

• As acute listeners, we can help our students and audiences unravel the wonders of music.

  Academic text (1994)

Synonyms

D

to deconstruct

vsto unravel

• Literature

23 7.2

Examine a text or artwork to show hidden ideas and assumptions

is more concrete, also used for separating physical threads and solving puzzles

U

to untangle

vsto unravel

10 3.5

To separate threads or cords that are twisted together

can also refer to solving confusing or mysterious situations mentally

U

to unwind

vsto unravel

5 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

also refers to clarifying confusing or mysterious situations rather than only threads

D

to disentangle

vsto unravel

1 5.3

To free something twisted and knotted, like a cord

adds meaning of explaining or clarifying confusing or mysterious matters

U

to unsnarl

vsto unravel

1 7.6

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

also covers making puzzling or mysterious issues clear to understand

U

to untwine

vsto unravel

1 7.4

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

also describes making confusing or mysterious matters clear and understandable

U

to unweave

vsto unravel

1 8.6

To take apart threads that form cloth or a basket

is broader, also used for explaining puzzling or mysterious problems

U

to unpick

vsto unravel

1 6.6

To study a difficult problem carefully to understand or solve it

is similar but focuses more on physical threads as well as problems

U

to unriddle

vsto unravel

1 7.2

To find the answer to a riddle or mystery

also applies to physically separating or disentangling threads or materials

R

to ravel out

vsto unravel

6.7

To separate twisted threads or make a confused situation clear

is also used for explaining mysterious or puzzling situations

R

to ravel

vsto unravel

6.5

To untangle threads or cords that are twisted together

also applies to solving confusing or mysterious problems rather than only threads

Antonyms

C

to complicate

101 4.1

To make something harder to understand or do

R

to ravel

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 Clear

to solve

∞ 1.3

to unravel

75 4.4

to confuse

266 1.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology