as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
the gradual devolution of the neighborhood from a thriving community of close-knit families to a drug-ridden slum
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Recent Examples of devolution
Conservatives saw all this as the devolution of post-Watts rioting into utter lawlessness.
—
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Follow Pope Francis’ example April 23, 2025 Gomez’s devolution was especially dispiriting because L.A. Catholic leaders have taught their American peers how to embrace Latino immigrants ever since Archbishop John Cantwell helped refugees from Mexico’s Cristero War resettle in the city in the 1920s.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Latin America experienced such a devolution in the mid-twentieth century.
—Javier Corrales, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Huerter stands by his explanation for his devolution with the Kings and return to form with the Bulls.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolution
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Follow Pope Francis’ example April 23, 2025 Gomez’s devolution was especially dispiriting because L.A. Catholic leaders have taught their American peers how to embrace Latino immigrants ever since Archbishop John Cantwell helped refugees from Mexico’s Cristero War resettle in the city in the 1920s.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Latin America experienced such a devolution in the mid-twentieth century.
—Javier Corrales, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Huerter stands by his explanation for his devolution with the Kings and return to form with the Bulls.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolution
Noun
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The causes of the deterioration are different in each case, and some of Washington’s grievances against Brazil, India, and South Africa—global swing states that will help dictate which country leads the world—are legitimate.—
Richard Fontaine,
Foreign Affairs,
27 Oct. 2025
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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CMT causes a range of sensory and motor symptoms, including numbness, tingling, pain, muscle weakness and atrophy — deterioration in cells, tissues, and organs.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The team believes their approach could eventually help regions struggling with industrial contamination and agricultural degradation.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
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Housing materials in artistic practice are fitting for an environment that is constantly under simultaneous construction and degradation, with sea levels continuing to rise, potholes throughout the city and as our own infrastructure buckles under the weight of an ever growing population.—
Mario Rodriguez,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Since hip-hop hit a market peak in 2020, it's been a slow decline ever since, the outlet reports.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Blank sailings have only gotten more prevalent as ocean carriers aimed to stop months of declines in freight rates after a softer-than-usual peak shipping season.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Presenting their findings in a lengthy declination memo, the prosecutors explicitly mentioned the two other investigations to bolster their recommendation that probable cause does not exist to charge Comey, according to sources familiar with the contents of the memo.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
6 Oct. 2025
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On those three dates, variations in the moon's position relative to Earth's equator — particularly its declination — can influence tidal forces that subtly affect Earth's rotation rate.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The rapid descent of temperatures, which in some cases may reach the upper 20s, raises concerns for agriculture, property maintenance, and daily routines as winter-like conditions arrive.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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The Apollo-era lunar module was a two-part spacecraft—a descent stage that landed the astronauts on the surface, and an ascent stage, containing the crew compartment, that lifted back off, leaving the bottom half of the vehicle on the moon.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolution. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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