as in deteriorates
to become worse or of less value
the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum
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Recent Examples of devolves
The first episode of both seasons can feel slow and awkward as everyone begins to suss each other out, but as time goes on and people’s faces get redder and more squished and pursed and uneasy, the whole production devolves into a chaos of avoidance and confrontation.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
But when the goal of the endeavor shifts from listening to talking back, the project rapidly devolves into chaos.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Iran’s future must be a secular republic grounded in pluralism, one that recognizes its multinational character, guarantees language and cultural rights, and devolves real power to regions.
—Jalil Pakray, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Or, perhaps even more likely, Iran devolves into a morass, a chaotic power struggle that destabilizes the entire powder keg of a region.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
In the show, Lucy and Stephen are an on-off couple whose relationship devolves into a series of dark secrets and manipulations.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
The hanging quickly devolves into an all-out bacchanal, as onlookers drink, dance and kiss in the square surrounding the flailing corpse.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
This is how a group chat among young Republicans devolves into talk of loving Hitler.
—Laura K. Field, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
If all goes to hell and America devolves into a rank dictatorship, beware the bootlicker.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
But when the goal of the endeavor shifts from listening to talking back, the project rapidly devolves into chaos.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Iran’s future must be a secular republic grounded in pluralism, one that recognizes its multinational character, guarantees language and cultural rights, and devolves real power to regions.
—Jalil Pakray, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Or, perhaps even more likely, Iran devolves into a morass, a chaotic power struggle that destabilizes the entire powder keg of a region.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
In the show, Lucy and Stephen are an on-off couple whose relationship devolves into a series of dark secrets and manipulations.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
The hanging quickly devolves into an all-out bacchanal, as onlookers drink, dance and kiss in the square surrounding the flailing corpse.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
This is how a group chat among young Republicans devolves into talk of loving Hitler.
—Laura K. Field, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
If all goes to hell and America devolves into a rank dictatorship, beware the bootlicker.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolves
Verb
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And as our credit deteriorates, borrowing gets more expensive, forcing us to borrow more to keep up, which worsens our credit further.—
Bill Conway,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
When hospitals operate under extreme and unpredictable demand spikes, patient safety deteriorates.—
Eugene Litvak,
STAT,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Holy Week begins with a triumphal procession, descends into betrayal and death, and ends with resurrection.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Ribbon Fall, which descends 1,612 feet and marks Yosemite’s single largest drop, is a slender plunge and could be gone by June, Goehring says.—
Kurtis Alexander,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Like the impish anti-romance that crumbles around it, the movie’s twist is both transgressive enough to be pleased with itself and also rooted in a reality that refuses to be dismissed as a bad joke.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And as our credit deteriorates, borrowing gets more expensive, forcing us to borrow more to keep up, which worsens our credit further.—
Bill Conway,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Distress could spread to countries beyond the Gulf if dire conditions prompt residents to flee across borders and infrastructure damage worsens a global oil shock, analysts said.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If the tech sector declines, the resulting drawdown can significantly reduce your base for withdrawals—at a point when there may be little time to recover.—
Doug Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
As access declines, downstream complications and costs will rise.—
Diego Schaps,
STAT,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devolves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolves. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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