unravel
To untangle threads, or to slowly work out a mystery.
unravel in a sentence
- Loose wool began to unravel from the sleeve until half the jumper had gone.
- Chapter by chapter, the detectives in the book slowly unravel the mystery of the missing painting.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to unravel?
- Aknot
- Buntangle
- Ctwist
Show the answer
B: untangle. The other three mean the opposite of unravel.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to unravel?
- Aknot
- Bundo
- Cuntangle
- Dunwind
Show the answer
A: knot. The other three mean nearly the same as unravel.
Words that mean something similar
untangle, undo, unwind
Words that mean the opposite
knot, twist
More words about movement & action
- unveil: To show something to people for the first time.
- uproot: To pull a plant out of the ground, or to move someone from their home.
- usher: To lead or guide someone politely to a place.
- vanish: To disappear suddenly and completely.
- vanquish: To defeat someone completely in a battle or contest.
- vault: To jump over something using your hands or a pole to help you.
- veer: To change direction suddenly.
- venture: To dare to go somewhere or try something risky.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test