as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum
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Recent Examples of devolving
At a time when American politics was devolving from statesmanship to showmanship and the tone of discourse was becoming cruel, former Governor Larry Hogan set an example of calm and thoughtful leadership.
—
Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 3 May 2026
These flashes of melancholy or yearning give the record complexity and depth, as well as stopping it from devolving into wackiness.
—Alastair Shuttleworth, Pitchfork, 2 May 2026
And situations like that are becoming the norm in the NBA playoffs – which are quickly evolving into a war of attrition … or, perhaps devolving is a better word.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
But instead of paving the way for some good ol’ fashioned infidelity, the liquid courage causes the women to turn on each other, with the evening devolving into inebriated insults and recriminations.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Keeping it fresh How has a band that’s been together for more than 50 years managed to remain a creative force without burning out, splitting up or devolving into little more than a human jukebox pumping out nostalgia?
—Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The commission must reject devolving veto authority to cities.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Last year’s conflict with Israel laid bare weaknesses in Iran’s command structures under pressure, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly becoming increasingly hard to reach and authority devolving to provincial governors.
—Farida Elsebai, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
One of his chief concerns is that governments and regulators are struggling to keep pace with the technology’s rapid rollout, leaving the private sector locked in a race to the finish that risks devolving into the kind of perilous competition not seen since the height of the Cold War.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 3 May 2026
These flashes of melancholy or yearning give the record complexity and depth, as well as stopping it from devolving into wackiness.
—Alastair Shuttleworth, Pitchfork, 2 May 2026
And situations like that are becoming the norm in the NBA playoffs – which are quickly evolving into a war of attrition … or, perhaps devolving is a better word.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026
But instead of paving the way for some good ol’ fashioned infidelity, the liquid courage causes the women to turn on each other, with the evening devolving into inebriated insults and recriminations.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Keeping it fresh How has a band that’s been together for more than 50 years managed to remain a creative force without burning out, splitting up or devolving into little more than a human jukebox pumping out nostalgia?
—Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
The commission must reject devolving veto authority to cities.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Last year’s conflict with Israel laid bare weaknesses in Iran’s command structures under pressure, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reportedly becoming increasingly hard to reach and authority devolving to provincial governors.
—Farida Elsebai, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
One of his chief concerns is that governments and regulators are struggling to keep pace with the technology’s rapid rollout, leaving the private sector locked in a race to the finish that risks devolving into the kind of perilous competition not seen since the height of the Cold War.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolving
Verb
-
The poll also points to broader economic malaise; 55% of Americans say recent price increases have led to financial hardship, and the same number say their financial situation is deteriorating.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In all cases, companies are reporting a surge in oil trading activity, tempered somewhat by the deteriorating outlook for natural gas production, stemming from Iranian air strikes severely damaging crucial gas production sites in the Gulf.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Only weeks remain before hundreds of thousands of soccer fans are expected to start descending on Kansas City for the first game, on June 16, of the month-long 2026 FIFA World Cup competition.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
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This season has been an adventure, with thousands descending on Seville and Porto in particular, transforming those cities into a sea of red for a few glorious days.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit, filed by the 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way Condominium Association, claims building residents have observed concrete balconies crumbling and the building's seawall corroding, issues that lawyers estimate will cost millions of dollars to repair.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Under the proposal, Berlin would increase its budget by one fifth in 2027 compared to this year, requiring it to borrow upwards of $200 billion to revive its military industry and modernize crumbling infrastructure.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Reports in 2024 and 2025 indicated declining health, including low blood pressure, dizziness and heart problems, but these claims could not be independently verified.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Now these countries, like much of the world, are facing declining birth rates that threaten to upend their economies.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Many Americans feel financially squeezed — over half say their finances are worsening, according to a recent Gallup poll, the highest since 2001.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
However, many of his former clients later sued him on allegations of fraud and several of them have criticized him for allegedly worsening the boxing climate.—
PEOPLE,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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McFarland found the items inside a degenerating family trunk.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
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But in general, any organic media is going to start degenerating over time, and the pH is going to be higher.—
Ryan Conner,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Back at the Elias-Clarke building, Runway’s intrepid leader Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) and her deputy Nigel (Stanley Tucci) fight to keep their once-vital, but now diminishing, print product alive in the digital age.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
-
Even the most ambitious stories often felt exhausted by the third installment, with diminishing creative and financial returns.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devolving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolving. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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