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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devolution
Keys to economic rejuvenation in these left-behind places are the devolution of decision-making powers to local and regional authorities, as well as having sufficient financial resources to implement the resulting bottom-up decisions.
—
Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Schematic plot aside, Gigolo succeeds as a profile of a pleasure provider whose generosity masks a thin veneer of loneliness, and Gere persuasively sells his character’s devolution from desirable man to out-of-work prostitute after his fancy clients hang him out to dry.
6.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
This phenomenon will begin to impact chronic disease management and progressively more complex conditions and will accelerate devolution of care and responsibility for many conditions to the patient — who is often best placed to understand their own health.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 31 Dec. 2024
Maybe the game won't sync across platforms, and the impedance of having to start all over will be enough to prevent notable devolution.
—Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for devolution
Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Schematic plot aside, Gigolo succeeds as a profile of a pleasure provider whose generosity masks a thin veneer of loneliness, and Gere persuasively sells his character’s devolution from desirable man to out-of-work prostitute after his fancy clients hang him out to dry.
6.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
This phenomenon will begin to impact chronic disease management and progressively more complex conditions and will accelerate devolution of care and responsibility for many conditions to the patient — who is often best placed to understand their own health.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 31 Dec. 2024
Maybe the game won't sync across platforms, and the impedance of having to start all over will be enough to prevent notable devolution.
—Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 5 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for devolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolution
Noun
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They are then transported to the Berkhamsted conservation center, where their condition is examined for deterioration.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Nationwide, the ramifications of deportation for these key citizens will affect all of us, which can lead to deterioration of our healthcare system, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, home health aides, etc.—
Rachel Blumberg,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
These trade shifts are causing environmental degradation.—
Simi Thambi,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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Violence, corruption and environmental degradation have saturated the avocado trade there, causing the U.S. to briefly stop imports and senators to agitate for action by the federal government.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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But there are also other factors contributing to the job decline, such as price compression caused by oversupply, which has forced many operators to cut costs, including labor expenses.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
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That's when crossings at the border first began their sharp decline, a trend that accelerated after Trump took office.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Where corporate criminal investigations resolve without filing any criminal charges (through a declination or deferred prosecution agreement), companies should expect victims to still voice their views loudly to the Justice Department and beyond.—
Lisa Zornberg,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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The changing declination also defines the daily arc that the sun takes across the sky, thereby accounting for the length of daylight.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Minister for Justice can waive some of the conditions of becoming an Irish citizen where the applicant is of Irish descent or association.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
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The ride, named Top Gun, is designed to ascend vertically before plunging into its high-speed descent.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolution. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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