What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unravel
Example
I need to unravel this ball of yarn before I can start knitting. [unravel: verb]
Example
The detective worked tirelessly to unravel the mystery behind the crime. [unravel: verb]
Example
The relationship between the two friends began to unravel after a series of misunderstandings. [unravel: verb]
untangle
Example
I spent hours trying to untangle my headphones. [untangle: verb]
Example
It took some time to untangle the legal issues surrounding the contract. [untangle: verb]
Example
Let's have a meeting to untangle any confusion about the project. [untangle: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Untangle is more commonly used than unravel in everyday language. Untangle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unravel is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unravel and untangle?
Both unravel and untangle are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
