DEVOLVED Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

devolved

verb

past tense of devolve

as in deteriorated

to become worse or of less value the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum

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Recent Examples of devolved Verbal fights between the two women devolved into a physical brawl. — Eamon Javers, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026 Republicans on the committee followed that lead, confronting him in a hearing that frequently devolved into partisan sniping and name-calling. — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 By the end of Volume I, the court romance has devolved into a series of infidelities, both personal and political, which cause the corruption and destabilization of England’s fledgling democracy. — Eileen Hunt, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026 But the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has devolved significantly since its glory days atop the comedy calendar, proving to be a weaker platform for political satire than the Onion’s takeover of Infowars. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026 Since the war has devolved into a quagmire, Kushner and Witkoff have been relegated to a secondary role in peace talks; Vance took the lead in the latest round, this summer. — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 Twenty-five years later, Diane Sawyer can still remember the morning of September 11, 2001, when a standard Good Morning America broadcast with coanchor Charlie Gibson devolved into tragedy. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 9 Sep. 2026 On Wednesday, the board’s conversation devolved into squabbling before Gaytán could even present her allegations to the directors. — Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2026 Harris also saw the majority of his playing time late in the year when the Chargers’ offensive line had devolved into a completely non-viable unit, and the team failed to generate efficient production from any of its pass catchers. — Jakob Sanderson, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolved

Verb

David and his brother Mark, who shared power of attorney, said in an interview that their mother's memory deteriorated further after a head injury in a 2019 car collision.

— Jordan Rau, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
Americans’ assessments of both current and future economic conditions deteriorated and more said a recession is likely in the next 12 months.

— Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of deteriorated

Verb

Madonna then descended the stairs and removed her coat to reveal a red-and-black corset as dancers lifted her onto a table that rolled around a choir in the audience wearing white veils.

— Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
The president and the first lady held hands and walked to the foot of the stairs in front of Xi's plane, standing for a few moments before the Chinese leader and Madame Peng descended.

— Isabella Murray, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of descended

Verb

Although the terror group’s caliphate crumbled in 2019, ISIS has been gaining young American followers willing to take their violent direction.

— Jeff Winter, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
One source familiar with the negotiations said the states had four separate votes against settling on Sunday, but the resistance eventually crumbled with word that the WGA was backing out of the fight.

— Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of crumbled

Verb

Joe and Nathan’s doomed bromance started off tense, got better over time, and worsened again once Joe found another bro to romance with.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026
Many identified themselves as teachers, noting that pandemic-era disruptions to in-class learning severely worsened reading deficits.

— Chris Fusco, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of worsened

Verb

Laboratory officials declined to provide details, citing privacy concerns, but said experts from India, China, the United States, Singapore and South Korea were assisting with the work.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
The couple — identified as Trinity County residents Mallory and Jeff Wilson by the San Francisco Chronicle, which was first to report on the incident — declined The Times’ interview request.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of declined

Verb

Fay degenerated on Tuesday, but by Thursday afternoon was once again a strengthening tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, moving west at 6 mph in the central Atlantic, according to the hurricane center.

— Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
The Philadelphia Eagles drastically overhauled their playbook after their offense degenerated in 2025, and the technical and philosophical changes Hurts must master demand a departure from the comfort zones of past systems.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of degenerated

Verb

Gallery owners say years of mixed signals and the prospect of construction threaten a center already diminished by vacancies — and fear tenants may never come back.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Likewise, the failure to hire an effective leader for the Blockchain Association has diminished the industry’s influence in the Capitol.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminished

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“Devolved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolved. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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