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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Recent Examples of devolve
Advertisement In 2024, Burnham co-authored a book alongside Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, arguing that inequality is best addressed by devolving more power to local governments that better understand the needs of their communities.
—
Tiago Ventura, Time, 15 May 2026
Future President Andrew Jackson shot and killed Charles Dickinson in a duel after a horse-racing dispute devolved into insults.
—USA Today, 13 May 2026
What begins as a skeptical pursuit of Richard’s double quickly devolves into an all-consuming obsession, unraveling Clare’s grip on reality and pulling her into a liminal nightmare where she is suspended between the living and the dead.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 May 2026
These loud parties can devolve into violence, exasperating community leaders and the police.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Tiago Ventura, Time, 15 May 2026
Future President Andrew Jackson shot and killed Charles Dickinson in a duel after a horse-racing dispute devolved into insults.
—USA Today, 13 May 2026
What begins as a skeptical pursuit of Richard’s double quickly devolves into an all-consuming obsession, unraveling Clare’s grip on reality and pulling her into a liminal nightmare where she is suspended between the living and the dead.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 May 2026
These loud parties can devolve into violence, exasperating community leaders and the police.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolve
Verb
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Over the course of the next hour, the weather deteriorated rapidly.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
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The warning underscores the deteriorating situation in Gaza.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The world of The White Lotus Season 4 also descended on Tetou, making the two-hour pilgrimage from their set in Saint-Tropez to Cannes on their only day off just in time for dinner.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 May 2026
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Eventually, several crew members descended downward from the helicopter on ropes, retrieved the hiker and hoisted him back up.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Verb
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A lot of the old ways and structures the industry was built around have shifted or crumbled.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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The mounting costs of Putin’s war on Ukraine have contributed to the nation’s shift, as Russians grapple with higher inflation, more taxes, crumbling infrastructure, tighter censorship, and myriad new restrictions.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Airfares were already rising when Spirit Airlines shut down on May 2, and the loss of the discount carrier is expected to worsen the trend for travelers.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
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Foreign investors continue to be bearish on India due to weak earnings and the worsening economic impact from the rising global oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Verb
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McGrail says Janet declined and put an end to the evening.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
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Schoenbrun’s third feature, Teenage Sex & Death at Camp Miasma stars Einbinder as an enthusiastic young director who is tasked with resurrecting the Camp Miasma slasher franchise after years of subpar sequels and declining fandom.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolve. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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