Synonyms of devolves

devolves

verb

present tense third-person singular of devolve

as in deteriorates

to become worse or of less value

the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deteriorates
• descends
• crumbles
• worsens
• declines
• diminishes
• degenerates
• regresses
• atrophies
• decays
• rots
• ebbs
• sinks
• weakens
• disintegrates
• retrogrades
• falls
• goes to seed
• decomposes
• wanes
• goes to pot
• recedes
• dwindles
• degrades
• sags
• reduces
• downsizes
• sours
• slips
• abates
• corrupts
• undermines
• putrefies
• lessens
• debilitates
• fails
• languishes
• spoils
• de-escalates
• droops
• lags
• dilapidates
• lowers
• wilts
• breaks down
• runs down
• molders
• wastes (away)
• flags

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improves
• ameliorates
• intensifies
• enhances
• develops
• progresses
• enriches
• heightens
• strengthens
• proceeds
• upgrades
• meliorates
• fortifies
• advances
• betters
• marches

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of devolves

Before long, high school devolves into Crucible-style mania as the girls start seeing visions. — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 11 Nov. 2026

The whole situation devolves from there, with Reed having to shoot Peter to prevent him from strangling her, destroying all of the surveillance tape, and hopping into a getaway car with Zeus and Spitfire after a very cursory search for Vita. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026

And what begins as this idyllic ‘Prairie Home Companion’ recollection of this town’s beautiful history devolves into a sort of parable on xenophobia and colonization. — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

India’s first bullet train is yet to transport a single passenger 10 years after the joint project with Japan broke ground, as the undertaking devolves into sniping and recriminations. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026

When that falls short, Liliom’s life quickly devolves, leaving audiences to wonder if bad deeds are a question of character or circumstance. — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

But external leadership quickly devolves if our inner landscapes are left scattered to the wind during massive, often uninvited personal upheavals. — Patrick Murphy, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

The book takes cues from both Song of Solomon and Sula—a revenge side plot in Song takes center stage and devolves in a Shakespearean fashion. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Some of the mayhem devolves into silliness, including a foot chase through Red Square (doubled by Budapest’s Heroes’ Square abetted with digital effects) and a vehicular chase in which Nick and Troy drive a nuclear missile launcher. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026