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 The game devolved from there, with sloppy fielding and poor relief pitching sending fans to the exits in the eighth and ninth. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 But things quickly devolved, and once again scoring seemed to make little sense leading up to yet another hard-to-watch elimination. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolved

Verb

How much longer the current cycle can continue may depend on market breadth, which has deteriorated.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Johnson in March 2026 observed that Jones’ mental health had deteriorated in the previous three months.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of deteriorated

Verb

After this news and Tusk’s vocal campaign in support of Ukraine and against any possible Russian hybrid attacks, NATO and international leaders descended upon Warsaw for the international forum.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026
The statement said the weapon separated from its booster rocket at the planned altitude, then descended and maneuvered both vertically and horizontally before hitting a test target.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of descended

Verb

Long Beach Powerful waves crumbled large sections of the boardwalk on the Long Beach Peninsula and left several homes with severe structural damage.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
As recruiting migrates from Friday Night Lights to the transfer portal, that old infrastructure has crumbled.

— Chris Park, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of crumbled

Verb

By the time Arteaga and Vasquez saddled up their horses early the next morning, Gastón’s condition had worsened.

— Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Those issues worsened when sixth-year receiver Ben Ford exited Saturday’s game at halftime with an injury, after already recording four catches for 45 yards.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of worsened

Verb

The local district attorney declined to seek criminal charges, but the criminal case was reopened after the lawsuit was filed.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
The campaign for the Democratic nominee for governor, David Jolly, declined to comment on what the new opinion meant for the Hope Florida saga.

— Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of declined

Verb

These days, oversight hearings have degenerated into partisan brawls.

— David Wippman, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of degenerated

Verb

The weather service canceled the flood watch for nearly all the Kansas City forecast area because the threat of additional heavy rain had diminished.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
One can see this when a paint’s color appears diminished and faded.

— Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminished

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“Devolved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolved. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of devolved

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