to unsnarl

Examples

• All

• "He popped the CD into the machine while the geek unsnarled cords."

  Fiction book (2002)

• Unsnarl these Japanese signs.

  Hell and High Water (1954)

• He positioned her at the sun-filled desk and began to carefully unsnarl her hair.

  Fiction book (2000)

• This was the classic example of a situation where you called your ship to be beamed back aboard, leaving the work of unsnarling everything to the captain—and her communicator wasn't working.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The team worked late into the night to unsnarl the complicated project, making sure every detail was addressed.

• He used a special tool to unsnarl the tangled wires behind the television.

Synonyms

U

to untie

vsto unsnarl

91 1.0

Make a knot or lace loose by undoing it

covers that action but also freeing things from general confusion or mess

U

to unravel

vsto unsnarl

75 4.4

To find out what really happened in a confusing situation

leans more toward freeing from a tangle or general confusion rather than solving mysteries

U

to untangle

vsto unsnarl

12 4.9

To free someone from a difficult or confusing situation

is more general, covering both physical tangles and metaphorical confusion

S

to straighten out

vsto unsnarl

11 2.9

To make something free of bends, twists, or knots

is broader, also meaning to free from confusing or tangled situations

U

to unravel the mystery

vsto unsnarl

8 5.2

To make a difficult or confusing problem clear

covers that clarifying act but also implies physically freeing from a tangle

U

to unwind

vsto unsnarl

5 3.7

Make a wrapped or twisted thing loose and straight

is similar but the key also covers freeing from chaotic or confusing states

U

to untwist

vsto unsnarl

2 3.7

To make something that is twisted become straight

focuses more broadly on freeing from any tangle, physical or figurative

D

to disentangle

vsto unsnarl

1 5.3

To free something twisted and knotted, like a cord

is similar but also applies to clearing confusing or messy situations

U

to unknot

vsto unsnarl

1 5.1

To make a tied rope or string loose so it comes apart

includes that knot action but also applies to untangling confusing situations

U

to untwine

vsto unsnarl

1 7.4

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

is broader, also meaning to free from nonphysical tangles or confusion

U

to untangle this mess

vsto unsnarl

1 5.5

To make a confusing or difficult situation clear

is more action focused on freeing from a tangle than only explaining it

U

to unweave

vsto unsnarl

1 8.6

To take apart threads that form cloth or a basket

is broader, applying to general tangles and confusion beyond woven material

U

to unwedge

vsto unsnarl

1 7.4

To free something that is stuck by removing what blocks it so it can move again

focuses more on physical blockage rather than general tangles or confusing messes

U

to unriddle

vsto unsnarl

1 7.2

To find the answer to a riddle or mystery

is about making things free from tangles or confusion, not only solving riddles

R

to ravel

vsto unsnarl

6.5

To untangle threads or cords that are twisted together

is similar but used generally for both physical and confusing situations

R

to ravel out

vsto unsnarl

6.7

To separate twisted threads or make a confused situation clear

has the same basic sense but also fits resolving broader messy cases

D

to disembroil

vsto unsnarl

• Formal

9.9

To free a person or thing from a difficult situation

is closer to physical freeing but also covers removing confusion or entanglement

U

to unwrinkle

vsto unsnarl

6.3

To make a plan simpler by removing problems

is more concrete about freeing from a physical tangle as well as complication

U

to unloose (a) knot

vsto unsnarl

• Archaic

5.9

To untie a knot so it comes apart

is like that action but also used for removing nonphysical entanglement

U

to unchoke

vsto unsnarl

6.7

To remove a block so water or air can flow again

is closer to freeing from tangles or confusion, not only clearing flow restrictions

Antonyms

T

to tangle

46 3.7

To twist things together so they are hard to pull apart

S

to snarl

6 7.1

To make something more confused or tangled

How Untangled

to unravel

38 4.3

to untangle

10 3.5

to unsnarl

1 7.6

to loosen

88 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology