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 situation devolves from there, in a sort of micro-zombie apocalypse.
—
The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Set in 1950s England, as the party devolves into shambles — mostly orchestrated by Hedda herself — Hedda goes from a simmering conversation about what happens to a woman bound by her circumstances to a sexy psychological thriller about class, power, and ambition.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 23 Oct. 2025
But the show never recaptures that energy, and what follows rapidly devolves into an ungainly blob of franchise-building obligation.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Lynne Ramsay’s upcoming Die, My Love, starring Jennifer Lawrence as a new mother gripped by a postpartum depression that devolves into psychosis, looks set to expand that canon.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
The movie devolves into something inexact and thoughtless, without anything distinct to recenter it.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
This ensemble dramedy follows a group of couples (among them, Perry, Janet Jackson, and Jill Scott) who adjourn to a country estate for what’s supposed to be a carefree weekend but instead devolves into a truth-telling free-for-all.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2025
Cue the crashout, which starts as a fight and quickly devolves into kidnapping, spell work, and the dilemma of figuring out which friend to call to hide a body.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
In it, the group of operatives attempt to intercept a team of Chinese nuclear scientists in Iran; the situation devolves into a shootout, culminating in a last-minute helicopter rescue.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2025
The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Set in 1950s England, as the party devolves into shambles — mostly orchestrated by Hedda herself — Hedda goes from a simmering conversation about what happens to a woman bound by her circumstances to a sexy psychological thriller about class, power, and ambition.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 23 Oct. 2025
But the show never recaptures that energy, and what follows rapidly devolves into an ungainly blob of franchise-building obligation.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Lynne Ramsay’s upcoming Die, My Love, starring Jennifer Lawrence as a new mother gripped by a postpartum depression that devolves into psychosis, looks set to expand that canon.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
The movie devolves into something inexact and thoughtless, without anything distinct to recenter it.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
This ensemble dramedy follows a group of couples (among them, Perry, Janet Jackson, and Jill Scott) who adjourn to a country estate for what’s supposed to be a carefree weekend but instead devolves into a truth-telling free-for-all.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2025
Cue the crashout, which starts as a fight and quickly devolves into kidnapping, spell work, and the dilemma of figuring out which friend to call to hide a body.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
In it, the group of operatives attempt to intercept a team of Chinese nuclear scientists in Iran; the situation devolves into a shootout, culminating in a last-minute helicopter rescue.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolves
Verb
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As the situation deteriorates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany among others have urged their nationals to leave Bamako.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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Exposure to such content also deteriorates her audience’s ability to form beliefs on the basis of the evidence and primes them for skepticism toward consequential matters like vaccines and medicine.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the film, a young girl (Linda Blair) becomes possessed by a demon and gradually descends into madness.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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The stakes just keep getting higher in this Grand Guignol of bloodthirsty excess, as bereaved government agent Soo-hyun (Lee Byung-hun) descends into shocking depravity in his pursuit of serial killer Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik).—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Toby’s display, overall, looks a lot nicer, but when Paul goes to take a slice of his cake from the chocolate case, the whole thing crumbles to a mess.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
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At times, the house would break apart onstage, with the top half lifted in the air, only for YoungBoy to start aggressively rapping, standing supreme while the house crumbles around him.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Just like a traditional hangover, ignoring the need to rest only worsens an introvert hangover.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
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Chronic brain inflammation contributes to neuronal death and worsens amyloid and tau pathology.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Moderating declines at Vans suggest that the brand’s overhaul is taking shape.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
3 Nov. 2025
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If the player declines the qualifying offer, his previous team is entitled to an extra draft pick as compensation.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolves. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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