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
The first episode of both seasons can feel slow and awkward as everyone begins to suss each other out, but as time goes on and people’s faces get redder and more squished and pursed and uneasy, the whole production devolves into a chaos of avoidance and confrontation.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
More than one question-and-answer session devolved into a sparring match.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
But police said the outing devolved into a fight involving a knife and a bottle that was used to strike a fellow diner’s skull.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
The council has reconvened since, but tensions between the mayor, council and the community escalated and included the mayor’s firing of the city’s fire chief; his veto of the council’s vote to reappoint the city clerk; and a Monday meeting that devolved, within minutes, into a shouting match.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
More than one question-and-answer session devolved into a sparring match.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
But police said the outing devolved into a fight involving a knife and a bottle that was used to strike a fellow diner’s skull.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
The council has reconvened since, but tensions between the mayor, council and the community escalated and included the mayor’s firing of the city’s fire chief; his veto of the council’s vote to reappoint the city clerk; and a Monday meeting that devolved, within minutes, into a shouting match.
—Nick El Hajj, Des Moines Register, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolve
Verb
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For years, lawyers have alleged that inmates receive expired, undercooked or contaminated food, including spoiled meat and deteriorated dairy products.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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Now the war has turned into a race to stabilize the rapidly deteriorating global economic order, central to which is reopening the Strait of Hormuz.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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World’s fastest mini-sub According to reports, the submersible is able to ascend and descend in the water column at angles up to 45 degrees.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Mar. 2026
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At the same time, an American Airlines flight from Norfolk was descending.—
Sharyn Alfonsi,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From government to education to the workplace, DEI is crumbling.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 30,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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After crumbling due to the pressure at the Olympics, Malinin soared at the Figure Skating World Championships, putting on a strong short program before a clean free skate to give him his third-straight men's world title.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Over time this will worsen outcomes for chronic illness and preventative care.—
Dr. Howard A. Selinger,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2026
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The problem is expected to worsen over time without climate change mitigation.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Throughout the years-long investigation, Cherfilus-McCormick declined interview requests from the committee and provided little to no defense against the committee’s allegations.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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Some declined to provide their full names, citing safety concerns.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolve. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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