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
More recently, LaMalfa made headlines for hosting a town hall in Chico that quickly devolved into a 90-minute shouting session.
—
David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The Yankees’ night devolved in an eighth inning where Williams was asked to protect a 4-4 tie.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Almánzar admitted the argument devolved into obscenities.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
During a visit in 2009 to survey for mining possibilities, an argument devolved into a violent scuffle in which one man — Javier Chocobar, who was a Chuschagasta figurehead — was shot dead, while two others were gravely wounded.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Tempers flared, and the meeting devolved into a shouting match that played out for nearly than an hour in front of television cameras.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Yet this promising start devolved into a prime example of the sort of cynical assholery that today would be called a hot take, or even clickbait.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Bystander footage of the assault shows a White man hitting a Black man wearing a red shirt in the face, moments before the scene devolved into chaos, ultimately leaving six people injured and quickly going viral online.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
After acquiring outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros via trade for his contract season, the Cubs opted to give the slugger a mental reset after a hot start devolved into a career-worst slump at the plate.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The Yankees’ night devolved in an eighth inning where Williams was asked to protect a 4-4 tie.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Almánzar admitted the argument devolved into obscenities.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025
During a visit in 2009 to survey for mining possibilities, an argument devolved into a violent scuffle in which one man — Javier Chocobar, who was a Chuschagasta figurehead — was shot dead, while two others were gravely wounded.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2025
Tempers flared, and the meeting devolved into a shouting match that played out for nearly than an hour in front of television cameras.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Yet this promising start devolved into a prime example of the sort of cynical assholery that today would be called a hot take, or even clickbait.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Bystander footage of the assault shows a White man hitting a Black man wearing a red shirt in the face, moments before the scene devolved into chaos, ultimately leaving six people injured and quickly going viral online.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
After acquiring outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros via trade for his contract season, the Cubs opted to give the slugger a mental reset after a hot start devolved into a career-worst slump at the plate.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolved
Verb
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By the early 1960s, reforms in Angola had begun to stall as budgets were cut and conditions deteriorated, the museum website says.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
But when the levees failed, thousands of people were trapped inside as supplies dwindled and conditions deteriorated quickly.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When the Yankees returned two weeks later, cameras descended and seats filled, once again.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
-
But more than 20,000 soldiers descended on Panama—far outnumbering the 4,500 thought to be in or on the way to the region.—
Ellie Cook
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the concept crumbled almost immediately before being thrown completely off track with Courtney Vandersloot’s season-ending injury.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Acquired to solidify the bridge to the closer, Helsley has crumbled in his first month as a Met.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There’s never a good time for bad news, but with RadarOnline reporting that the King’s health has worsened recently.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
5 Sep. 2025
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Heavy rains and leaky sewage pipes The causes of fecal bacteria in coastal and inland waters vary depending on the region, but in each case it's worsened by heavy rains and extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes, experts said.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On the Republican side, many politicos were thrown for another loop when Attorney General Brenna Bird declined to run for the GOP nomination.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Sep. 2025
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Note that the relative strength indicator has declined from late 2024 to the present – heading in the opposite direction of the price.—
John Navin,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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By Monday, the storm had degenerated in to remnants which were located about 615 miles west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, with no threat to land, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With four weeks of consistent use, our tester’s dark spots were diminished, and her skin looked even-toned and healthy.—
Esme Benjamin,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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Now, with the rise of summaries and instant answers, their impact on driving actual site traffic has diminished.—
Noa Eshed,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolved. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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