UNRAVELING Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

unraveling

verb

present participle of unravel

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

as in solving

to find an answer for through reasoning unraveled the mystery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of unraveling The research has started unraveling the pathways that lead to behavior and disease. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 Now, the task of unraveling the case will fall to the state’s attorney general, Letitia James, who was appointed as a special prosecutor. — Hallie Golden, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026 Rocha developed Parker’s dress from an existing show piece, reworking its hand-laced, unraveling ribbons in a pale ballet pink intended as a nod to pointe shoes. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026 The investigation into his actions became a national scandal, unraveling after Rachael Denhollander publicly accused him in September 2016. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026 But not all Republicans agree with the idea that their Hispanic base might be unraveling. — Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 The future reveals its uncannily familiar face in this novel, and the Kent coast serves as both canvas and muse for that unraveling. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 The episode became a turning point, unraveling diplomacy that had largely preserved the informal truce and halted Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. — Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 Metalpoint is delicate by comparison with ink, almost weblike; but in both cases, the drawings are unraveling clusters and skeins, with passages both tight and loose. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unraveling

Verb

By the late 1960s, confidence in technological progress was fraying.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
At a time when the social safety net is fraying and affordability is a midterm-election mantra, churches are stepping into the void.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of fraying

Verb

Others said the approach OpenAI and other AI companies have taken to solving mathematical problems constitutes an assault on mathematics as a human academic discipline.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026
The cable outlet has picked up a second season of the show, which stars Tracy Spiridakos (Chicago PD) as a crime-solving national park ranger.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of solving

Verb

Cutting Iran off completely from the UAE could deal a serious blow to the Islamic Republic’s economy — but experts say disentangling the pair’s commercial ties could prove difficult.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026
New characters and backstory details are dropped in before existing loose ends are tied up, resulting in unclear motivations and convoluted layers of subplot that, ultimately, do not prove relevant enough to have been worth disentangling.

— Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of disentangling

Verb

The latest breed of artificial intelligence assistants goes beyond the abilities of chatbots, which are great at answering questions and creating content.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
The chair of Fayette County Democrats, Tracy Wilson, said the Uniontown Police Department is already short-staffed and underfunded and believes the program could hinder officers from answering calls.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of answering

Verb

Then agree on a response, whether coaching, clearer priorities or help resolving conflicting requests.

— Bala Sathyanarayanan, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Addressing aging windows as a coordinated project can provide a fresh, consistent look while resolving problems that may have developed gradually over time.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of resolving

Verb

The chemistry prize recognized two scientists for untangling mysterious mirror images in molecules, a discovery that has been used to develop countless drugs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Drop it onto its magnetic base station when you're done playing, and never worry about untangling dead wires again.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of untangling

Browse Nearby Words

unraveled

unraveling

unravels

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“Unraveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unraveling. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unraveling

verb

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