This work investigated the redispersion and setting behavior of highly loaded (~ 18 wt.% solids in water) pastes of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). A single-screw extruder was used to continuously process CNF + CMC pastes into cord. The adsorption of CMC onto the CNFs was assessed through zeta potential and titration which revealed a surface charge change of ~ 61% from − 36.8 mV and 0.094 mmol/g COOH for pure CNF to -58.1 mV and 0.166 mmol/g COOH for CNF + CMC with a CMC degree of substitution of 0.9. Dried CNFs with adsorbed CMC was found to be fully redispersible in water and re-extruded back into a cord without any difficulties. On the other hand, chemical treatment with hydrochloric acid, a carbodiimide crosslinker, or two wet strength enhancers (polyamide epichlorohydrin and polyamine epichlorohydrin) completely suppressed the dispersibility previously observed for dried-untreated CNF + CMC. Turbidity was used to quantify the level of redispersion or setting achieved by the untreated and chemically treated CNF + CMC in both water and a strong alkaline solution (0.1 M NaOH). Depending on the chemical treatment used, FTIR analysis revealed the presence of ester, N-acyl urea, and anhydride absorption bands which were attributed to newly formed linkages between CNFs, possibly explaining the suppressed redispersion behavior. Water uptake of the differently treated and dried CNF + CMC materials agreed with both turbidity and FTIR results. Graphic abstract