What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unravel
Example
She unraveled the tangled ball of yarn. [unraveled: past tense]
Example
The detective worked tirelessly to unravel the mystery. [unravel: verb]
unwind
Example
I like to unwind with a good book after a long day at work. [unwind: verb]
Example
He carefully unwound the tangled cord. [unwound: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unwind is more commonly used than unravel in everyday language. Unwind is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unravel is less common and refers to a specific process of separating or disentangling something.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unravel and unwind?
Both unravel and unwind are typically associated with an informal tone, but unravel may be used in more formal contexts when referring to a complex problem or situation.
