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 two hit it off but eventually devolved into an abusive relationship fueled by drinking.
—
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Eventually the interrogation devolved into a monologue about the Revolution and its historical enemy the United States, Fidel and Raúl, the great humanity of the Ministry of the Interior, never mind its repressive goals.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
The Iran war seems to have devolved into a waiting game.
—Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
That the government is spending more on tourism while Cubans go without basics shows how far the Communist revolution has devolved, observers say.
—New York Times, 16 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
The formerly high-end shopping destination, featured as a backdrop for a scene in a 1985 John Hughes movie, has more recently devolved into desolation.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
That's what Star Wars has devolved into, and that's who Mark Hamill has become.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
The top candidates in California’s wide-open race for governor took the stage Wednesday night in a Los Angeles debate that began politely but quickly devolved into another raucous clash.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Eventually the interrogation devolved into a monologue about the Revolution and its historical enemy the United States, Fidel and Raúl, the great humanity of the Ministry of the Interior, never mind its repressive goals.
—Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
The Iran war seems to have devolved into a waiting game.
—Ilan Berman, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
That the government is spending more on tourism while Cubans go without basics shows how far the Communist revolution has devolved, observers say.
—New York Times, 16 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
The formerly high-end shopping destination, featured as a backdrop for a scene in a 1985 John Hughes movie, has more recently devolved into desolation.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
That's what Star Wars has devolved into, and that's who Mark Hamill has become.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
The top candidates in California’s wide-open race for governor took the stage Wednesday night in a Los Angeles debate that began politely but quickly devolved into another raucous clash.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolved
Verb
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Since his installation, the national security of Israeli citizens has steadily deteriorated.—
Avi Issacharoff,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
-
The facility had deteriorated insulation around the pipes.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
May 22,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The first season immediately put the team through their paces when a huge tornado descended upon a country music festival.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
-
On Sunday, hundreds of teenagers descended on a housing project on the West Side.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Cucumbers and shallots add a welcome crunch to this refreshing summer salad of cubed watermelon, fresh mint, and crumbled feta cheese.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
-
On May 28, 1871, over a hundred Communards were shot dead right here as dreams of a Socialist utopia crumbled around them.—
Emily Cox,
ARTnews.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The outbreak in Congo has rapidly worsened, with cases climbing to more than 1,000 and deaths topping 200, according to the World Health Organization.—
Monica Alba,
NBC news,
27 May 2026
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City Dock's construction impact on businesses Wilkerson said business began dropping after parking was removed near the waterfront last year and worsened as more fencing and construction took over the area.—
Caroline Foreback,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Officials at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex declined to comment.—
Chantz Martin OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, a Cook County judge on Thursday declined to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged wrongdoing by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Macron’s highest aspirations to, as a modern Talleyrand, inject himself and solve global issues such as Ukraine, Africa’s Sahel, Syria, Lebanon, or Iran have fallen short, degenerated into petty feuds, or backfired.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
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Last fall, a Krousty Sabaïdi giveaway promoted by popular French influencer Fares Salvatore, who has more than 868,000 followers on TikTok, degenerated into mayhem when the call-out attracted 3,000 teenagers.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Attendance diminished in recent years as the Wizards tore down their roster in the hopes of accumulating draft picks in trades and losing enough games to win early picks via the annual draft lottery.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
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The future-proof leader is the person disciplined enough to question their own assumptions, recognize when familiar frameworks no longer serve the moment, and understand that leadership is strengthened, not diminished, by remaining open to growth.—
Mary Hemphill,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devolved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolved. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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