as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolving
Verb
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Dahl’s relationship with the police department was deteriorating.—
Ronan Farrow,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025 -
Retail experts saw a lack of investment in Hudson’s Bay stores, diminishing service levels and deteriorating physical conditions, like malfunctioning escalators and water damage in certain locations.—
David Moin,
WWD,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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And what's in Jim's hand as he's seen descending the stairways?—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
24 Mar. 2025
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Inflation, which had peaked at an annual rate above 9%, was descending fitfully toward the Fed's goal of 2%.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This stylish planter keeps plants well-watered and is virtually indestructible, designed to resist cracking and crumbling even in freezing temperatures.—
Rachel Ahrnsen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Jan. 2025
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The crumbling concrete manifested more rapidly than in Connecticut, and with insufficient financial support available, some families fell into financial ruin.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Highly flammable tamarisk shrubs have taken root in thick stands near streams in the western US, and eucalyptus — one of the primary invasive trees blamed for worsening Chile’s recent wildfires as well as fires in Portugal — increases wildfire risk in California.—
Kylie Mohr,
Vox,
8 Jan. 2025
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The United States withdrew its forces from Europe while demanding debt payments from allies, who passed the costs on to Germany, worsening its financial turmoil and hastening its slide into Nazism.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But the same things that prevent parents from maintaining employment or housing — especially substance abuse and mental illness — often inhibit them from engaging in services, while also diminishing their ability to protect and care for their children.—
Emily Putnam-Hornstein and Naomi Schaefer Riley,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2025
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After his round, the Irishman did not tolerate the media diminishing his spot in the tournament.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Devolving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolving. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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