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
It’s been a tempestuous ride for Elon Musk’s mammoth Starship, after three flight launch attempts devolved in fiery glory and air-traffic stopping debris this year to date.
—
Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 19 June 2025
Protesters flooded the nation's second most populous city's downtown for days, some of which devolved into violence as protesters burned cars and looted buildings.
—Riley Beggin, USA Today, 18 June 2025
By Rachel Feltman What looks at first glance like a heartwarming story of cross-species adoption quickly devolves into something much stranger—and much darker.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 18 June 2025
After that, Crowder told me, meetings frequently devolved into discussions about the looming cuts.
—David W. Brown, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 19 June 2025
Protesters flooded the nation's second most populous city's downtown for days, some of which devolved into violence as protesters burned cars and looted buildings.
—Riley Beggin, USA Today, 18 June 2025
By Rachel Feltman What looks at first glance like a heartwarming story of cross-species adoption quickly devolves into something much stranger—and much darker.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 18 June 2025
After that, Crowder told me, meetings frequently devolved into discussions about the looming cuts.
—David W. Brown, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolve
Verb
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The Astros traded Pressly as a pure salary dump, influenced in part by his deteriorating relationship with general manager Dana Brown.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Thousands of small communities whose economies once revolved around plants have deteriorated to depression, drugs, and dollar stores.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Hours earlier, another Pride celebration at Washing Square Park descended into chaos after a false report of gunfire and an individual deploying bear spray into a crowd sparked a stampede of people running for their lives.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
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The New Shepard rocket, the company's fully reusable and fully autonomous spacecraft, separated from the capsule and returned to Earth ahead of the astronauts, safely descending and touching down on a landing pad not far from the launch site.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Top each bowl with fresh cilantro, lime juice, and crumbled Cotija cheese.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 June 2025
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The San Francisco company’s shares took a dive Monday after its partnership with Novo Nordisk crumbled.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
Verb
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This can lead to more frequent awakenings, shallower sleep and worsened airway instability, resulting in more apnea events.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
30 June 2025
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Sweden reintroduced a gender-neutral draft in 2017 citing worsening security conditions, while Norway became the first NATO country to implement gender-equal conscription in 2013.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Verb
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LeBron James already opted in to a $52.6 million deal with the Lakers for next season, the Rockets traded for Durant and the Los Angeles Clippers saw James Harden decline his option in return for a new deal and a raise.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
1 July 2025
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Three players ultimately declined to participate this time around: Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas and Barry Bonds.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolve. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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