Meaning & use
ravel
Last updated
To tangle or become entangled, or, confusingly, to unravel or separate strands.
See it in a sentence
The old sweater began to ravel at the cuff after years of wear.
The plot's threads slowly raveled together into one surprising conclusion.
A note on using this word
Unusually, 'ravel' can mean both 'to tangle' and 'to untangle,' so its meaning often depends on context; 'unravel' is more common and less ambiguous.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
unravel
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