Unweave

To undo or reverse the process of weaving; to separate the interwoven threads or strands of a fabric, material, or structure. This action effectively dismantles the woven form, returning the constituent parts to a less integrated or organized state. It can also be used metaphorically to describe the dismantling or unraveling of complex systems, narratives, or relationships, disrupting the coherence and interconnectedness that were previously present.

Unweave meaning with examples

• The ancient tapestry, ravaged by time and moth, was carefully taken apart, and workers began the painstaking process to unweave each thread. The goal was to reclaim and preserve the vibrant colours of the silk so the pattern could be accurately restored. This delicate act took weeks to accomplish.
• The detective sought to unweave the intricate web of lies and deceit spun by the suspect to expose the truth. She analyzed witness statements, financial records, and alibis, looking for any threads that would allow her to decipher the facts. This process required patience and persistence.
• The historian decided to unweave the narrative constructed by the previous generation. New archaeological finds and overlooked primary sources revealed that many popular perceptions about the time period, which had seemed woven into the story, needed to be rewritten in order to obtain a fuller picture.
• After the company's merger failed to meet expectations, management made the difficult decision to unweave the integration of their systems. This proved a complex process that required expertise from multiple departments, as it was found their data was not compatible in many areas.
• The experienced knitter became frustrated with a complex pattern. It led her to make the decision to unweave the intricate cable design, which would have caused her a great deal of aggravation, and restart from scratch with a simpler creation, thus producing something she could enjoy.