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
Latin America experienced such a devolution in the mid-twentieth century.
—
Javier Corrales, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Policies designed to increase competitive pressures on public schools—vouchers to allow low-income families to send their children to private schools, the devolution of more latitude to state and local authorities, and the expansion of charter schools—are the right place to begin.
—Arthur C. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017
And as Abundance explores in detail, the devolution of systems to local control produces policies that can be locally popular but nationally disastrous.
—Kelsey Piper, Vox, 28 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for devolution
Javier Corrales, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Policies designed to increase competitive pressures on public schools—vouchers to allow low-income families to send their children to private schools, the devolution of more latitude to state and local authorities, and the expansion of charter schools—are the right place to begin.
—Arthur C. Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017
And as Abundance explores in detail, the devolution of systems to local control produces policies that can be locally popular but nationally disastrous.
—Kelsey Piper, Vox, 28 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for devolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolution
Noun
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The art replaces a previous one that was located on Lake Street and removed in 2018 because of deterioration.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
-
Perry confirmed the system’s deterioration at the council’s May 28 meeting.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Food production alone is the leading driver of deforestation, land degradation, and wildlife extinction.—
Sylvana Quader Sinha,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
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Similarly, some brands are also offering waterless formulas to help protect the volatile ingredient from degradation.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
29 July 2025
Noun
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These adjustment to scheduling, along with staffing changes and dining revenue declines, are impacting not just Jack Fry's, but the entire Louisville restaurant economy.—
Amanda Hancock,
The Courier-Journal,
26 July 2025
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Charter reported a decline of 80,000 video subscribers during the quarter, far fewer than the decline of 408,000 in the year-ago period.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
25 July 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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Lopez, 64, has consistently voiced outrage over the controversial raids, and previously called on the MLB team to voice their support for immigrants and people of Latino descent within their community.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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The singer, the first artist of Chilean descent to sign with Sony Music Latin, made her mark by nabbing a pair of platinum singles and a Latin Grammy nomination for best new artist.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolution. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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