as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of devolving
Your city is devolving into a lawless hell hole.
—
Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Advertisement In 2024, Burnham co-authored a book alongside Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, arguing that inequality is best addressed by devolving more power to local governments that better understand the needs of their communities.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 15 May 2026
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
Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Advertisement In 2024, Burnham co-authored a book alongside Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, arguing that inequality is best addressed by devolving more power to local governments that better understand the needs of their communities.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 15 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolving
Verb
-
The track shouldn’t do that The problem was a new patch of tarmac that apparently wasn’t up to scratch and started deteriorating under the cars’ tires.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
8 June 2026
-
Yet many investors and strategists say foreign selling has less to do with deteriorating fundamentals and more to do with the market's own success.—
Sean Conlon,Joseph Wilkins,Tanaya Macheel,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
But there was something regal about a president descending those steps, or waving from the top of them, on foreign soil.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
-
Ingredients are listed in descending order, meaning the first few ingredients make up the largest share of the food.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Photos from the local information office in General Santos City, which has about 720,000 people, showed convenience stores and buildings crumbling in the aftermath of the quake.—
Kathleen Magramo,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
Those who work in Cuba’s crumbling tourism sector lamented Meliá’s announcement.—
Andrea Rodríguez,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Underlying the debate is an intense competition for public school students, which has become an existential threat in an era of sharply declining enrollment, especially given the reality that school districts are funded based on enrollment.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
More than a moral issue, the case risks a reputational crisis that could lead to declining sales, stock volatility, leadership instability and long-term damage to shareholder value, the organizations wrote.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Simsbury residents have reacted with widespread opposition, largely based on concerns about overdevelopment, worsening traffic, a costly spike in school enrollments and unwelcome change to what traditionally has been a semi-rural town.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
-
At the same time, the National divide over slavery was worsening.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
McFarland found the items inside a degenerating family trunk.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
The swell on Saturday, which brought moderate 3-to 5-foot surf, was diminishing by the evening and into Sunday, said Sebastian Westerink, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
7 June 2026
-
This put him in the unusual position of being both an embarrassment and a hugely valuable asset to the BBC, as well as the focus of frequent criticism from the UK’s right-leaning media, most of whom have a commercial interest in diminishing the BBC.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devolving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolving. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
