as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of devolve
Which serves as a reminder that while the specifics devolve, the general ideas have been floating in the ether for as long as power and office have been sought.
—
Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
By the 1980s, the liberal dream of freedom from want had devolved into a neoliberal quest for freedom from regulation.
—Katherine Tai, Foreign Affairs, 9 Jan. 2025
Loss of Professional Standards - A deregulated platform can devolve into a digital free-for-all, where harmful speech, scams, and unprofessional conduct thrive.
—Amy Blankson, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The Kursk operation, which the Ukrainian government hoped would re-allocate Russian forces away from the east, has instead devolved into another attritional grind, with Ukrainians at the front increasingly questioning whether the offensive was a smart play.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for devolve 
Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
By the 1980s, the liberal dream of freedom from want had devolved into a neoliberal quest for freedom from regulation.
—Katherine Tai, Foreign Affairs, 9 Jan. 2025
Loss of Professional Standards - A deregulated platform can devolve into a digital free-for-all, where harmful speech, scams, and unprofessional conduct thrive.
—Amy Blankson, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
The Kursk operation, which the Ukrainian government hoped would re-allocate Russian forces away from the east, has instead devolved into another attritional grind, with Ukrainians at the front increasingly questioning whether the offensive was a smart play.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for devolve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolve
Verb
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That same month, Reinhart flew back home to Ohio as her grandmother’s health was deteriorating.—
Julia Sullivan,
SELF,
22 Jan. 2025
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Conditions in Pensacola were deteriorating as of Tuesday morning, state officials said.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
Orlando Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When dusk descends into darkness, thousands of the insects light up in unison to the beat of some imperceptible drum.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2025
-
Some 8,000 people descended on San Francisco for one of the healthcare industry’s biggest events this week: The 43rd annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The village is small and dense, lined with crumbling structures and the exploded remains of cars.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
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Yakumo will use his unique fighting styles to defeat the Divine Dragon Order that’s turned Tokyo into a dystopian, crumbling mess.—
Ash Parrish,
The Verge,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The possible financial obligations due to the Child Victims Act could worsen a mounting fiscal crisis in Maryland.—
Gary Collins,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Jan. 2025
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Such an act of nature would only worsen the already-disastrous circumstances LA citizens are dealing with right now.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Martin declined to comment when contacted by Newsweek through email on Thursday.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
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Earlier this week, representatives for Billy Ray declined to comment on the family concerns.—
Nardine Saad,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near devolve
Cite this Entry
“Devolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolve. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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