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
The devolution of the traditional life style coincided with a surge in social problems.
—
Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
On top of that, the devolution of NCAA amateurism presents a chance to reconsider elite player development.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Under the Trump administration, the devolution of the American ideal has accelerated in some ways that could only exist in the unique context of the current moment, and others that mirror the predictable, centuries old ouroboros of political power and decline.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
It certainly isn’t made better when her friends start grilling him about his participation in the devolution of Belly and Jeremiah’s relationship.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolution
Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
On top of that, the devolution of NCAA amateurism presents a chance to reconsider elite player development.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Under the Trump administration, the devolution of the American ideal has accelerated in some ways that could only exist in the unique context of the current moment, and others that mirror the predictable, centuries old ouroboros of political power and decline.
—Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025
It certainly isn’t made better when her friends start grilling him about his participation in the devolution of Belly and Jeremiah’s relationship.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolution
Noun
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Oslo University Hospital on June 5 said Mette-Marit had been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant after a significant deterioration in her health that likely gave her only a year left to live without the surgery.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
That moment revealed profound psychiatric deterioration and human suffering.—
Justyna Rzewinski,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Forest degradation, driven by wildfires, logging and drought, affects about 40% of the Amazon and has outpaced clear-cutting in recent years.—
Gabriela Sa Pessoa,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
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Forest degradation, driven by wildfires, logging and drought, affects about 40% of the Amazon and has outpaced clear-cutting in recent years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The findings indicate that bird-watching and similar hobbies may support overall brain health, though researchers stop short of saying the activity definitively halts cognitive decline.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
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Earlier this year, a judge ordered the Bureau of Land Management to close roughly 2,000 miles of off highway vehicle trails in the western Mojave to reduce ongoing harm to the endangered desert tortoise, a keystone species of the local ecosystem whose numbers are in steep decline.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
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The Phillies, off to an even worse start at 9-19, relieved Rob Thomson of his managerial duties Tuesday, and with Cora’s declination, named bench coach Don Mattingly interim skipper.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.—
Ken B. Morales,
ProPublica,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One highlight of this tenure was his descent into a fit of giggles while interviewing Carol Channing.—
Mark Kennedy,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
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Mother African Union Church was founded decades before Juneteenth, born out of racist policies and structures that excluded people of African descent from worshipping freely.—
Wakisha Bailey,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolution. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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