Unraveled

To unravel means to come apart or become undone, often from a knotted, woven, or complex state. Figuratively, it signifies the exposure of hidden details or the breakdown of a system, plan, or concept. This can apply to physical objects, such as a sweater, or more abstract ideas, like a conspiracy or someone's mental state. The process implies a progressive disentanglement or revealing of underlying elements, often leading to a chaotic or understood resolution. The word suggests a loss of order and coherence, either physical or metaphorical.

Unraveled meaning with examples

• The old sweater, worn and threadbare, finally unraveled at the seam, leaving a cascade of yarn. Despite her best efforts, the mystery's central clue unraveled the entire case, revealing a series of hidden connections that no one had expected.
• His carefully constructed plan began to unravel when the critical funding fell through, leaving him scrambling to recover. As she spoke, her carefully constructed composure began to unravel, the tension in her voice betraying her true emotions.
• The detective used the victim's statement to begin to unravel the truth behind the case, bit by bit piecing together the facts. The intricate tapestry, decades old, slowly unraveled, exposing the delicate work that was beneath the surface.
• During the investigation, the web of lies began to unravel, exposing a network of corruption. The government's defense policy started to unravel when the public protested the military budget, revealing a weakness to the ruling party.
• With each accusation, the conspiracy theories surrounding the case began to unravel, exposing the alleged truths. The emotional stability of the suspect started to unravel when the police revealed the evidence to the public.