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
Khosla is trying to prevent things from devolving into the sort of trouble that has surfaced at UCLA.
—
Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Democratic societies function when citizens can handle disagreement without devolving into personal attacks.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
Democratic societies function when citizens can handle disagreement without devolving into personal attacks.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolving
Verb
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What’s desperately needed, Sisti said, are comprehensive investments in mental health — Housing First programs, funding to build up a mental health care workforce, and an easily accessible and coordinated system of voluntary treatment that prevents people from deteriorating on the streets.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
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In January, construction resumed to close a 100-foot gap and replace a deteriorating border fence in the southwestern area of Friendship Park, located between Playas de Tijuana and Imperial Beach.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Freight rate collapse continues All the carriers’ operational shifts come as freight rates keep descending.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Sep. 2025
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While the enemies and level design, as well as the progression of the descending route is a clear inversion and iteration of the original, the second half of the game feels downright experimental.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sworn declarations by detainees filed in federal court and obtained by the Herald on condition of anonymity allege negligent medical care and crumbling infrastructure at GEO’s facility in Karnes, Texas.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
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Family Tree centers on three estranged siblings who reunite at Christmas to sell their crumbling childhood home only to discover that fixing the house might be the key to repairing their fractured family.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Schools are facing mounting challenges — from funding pressures to declining enrollment and stagnant student achievement.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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Low midsingle-digit gains are anticipated due to rising prices from tariffs and inflation, declining consumer confidence, economic uncertainties and potential stockouts.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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More storms moved into the region Saturday, worsening already dangerous conditions.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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That means worsening conditions could be felt in the next 48 hours.—
Alex Harris
Updated September 27,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the Pacific, meteorologists are watching to see how much rain the degenerating Tropical Storm Mario could carry into the San Diego region.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Football, it could be argued, is diminishing its worth by almost never taking a break and playing virtually year-round.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement Risks of multivitamins Many of us grew up striving for 100% on every test, but overachieving with multivitamins comes with risk—diminishing their benefits or causing harmful side effects.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolving. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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