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
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
Stan shows us that devolution with a careful precision, forgoing imitation for a true embodiment.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for devolution
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
Stan shows us that devolution with a careful precision, forgoing imitation for a true embodiment.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for devolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolution
Noun
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This may further contribute to a deterioration in hard data and usher in an economic recession.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2025
-
That led to a deterioration of ties with Pakistan, which also claims the region.—
Fayaz Bukhari,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Beyond infrastructure strain, our information environment also shows signs of degradation.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
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All penguins face threats created by climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat degradation.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But its sales in the Greater China region, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, fell slightly to $16 billion, about a 2% decline from the previous year.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
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McDonald’s dipped 1% after first-quarter results showed the largest decline in U.S. same-store sales since 2020.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
1 May 2025
Noun
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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
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The sun's changing declination is what determines whether the sun's rays strike us at a low angle or more directly.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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It’s been a stunning descent for Combs, who became a billionaire after building a business empire that encompassed a record label and media properties, a clothing line, restaurants and liquor brands.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2025
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Goldstein launched The Second Best Night of Your Life tour in 2023, now a 63-minute descent into his mind available for home viewing.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolution. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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