as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devolve
The race started behind the safety car in a downpour, barely got going before devolving into yellow-flag chaos and was finally red-flagged on lap 25, suspending the race for over two hours.
—
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
These parties could go on to three or four in the morning, sometimes devolving into after-parties.
—Tom Freston, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
Discretion had devolved into reclusion, privacy into withdrawal.
—Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The cast of four supports the weight of the play together, balancing the intimate struggle of the family with the larger issues of the devolving world.
—Sophia Arndt, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolve
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025
These parties could go on to three or four in the morning, sometimes devolving into after-parties.
—Tom Freston, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2025
Discretion had devolved into reclusion, privacy into withdrawal.
—Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The cast of four supports the weight of the play together, balancing the intimate struggle of the family with the larger issues of the devolving world.
—Sophia Arndt, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolve
Verb
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Data centers deteriorate rapidly, unlike the more durable infrastructure of canals, railroads, or even fiber-optic cables.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
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During an earnings call Wednesday, Lyons said Argentina’s deteriorating economic environment contributed to slowing growth and margin disappointment.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Jones, who was a regular on the NBC sketch series from 2014 to 2019, was one of the dozens of former cast members who descended on Studio 8H for the epic evening.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Nov. 2025
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An avalanche of water descended through cracks in the ceiling of Brooklyn's Metropolitan Avenue/Lorimer Street station, forming pseudo waterfalls, according to Storyful.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But when her husband told her that his father would inherit everything, her sense of security began to crumble.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
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Vilgefortz, true to form, begins by leading a squadron that blasts magic so aggressively at the fortress that some of them crumble into bones on the spot.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The government shutdown threatens that economic output, and according to Schroeder, almost all service members are at serious threat of missing a paycheck if the shutdown extends into mid-November, worsening the situation.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Oct. 2025
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But his blunt dismissal of APEC risks worsening America’s reputation at a forum that represents nearly 40% of the world’s population and more than half of global goods trade.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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No Buffett, no premium Since Warren Buffett announced his retirement from Berkshire Hathaway its stock has declined 11% in a period when the S&P 500 rose 20%.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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Baldwin’s lawyers declined to comment on Kenney’s suit.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolve. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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