1. becomes tangled or frayed
2. causes something to become tangled or frayed
3. becomes confused or complicated

Examples

• The old sweater ravels at the edges.
• Her hair ravels in the wind.
• The rope ravels when it gets wet.
• The mystery ravels further with each new clue.
• Time ravels the fabric of the curtains.
• The plot ravels as more characters are introduced.