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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of devolve
What started out as something Howie Mandel thought would be a funny bit for his Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast last month quickly devolved into a super-tense, awkward moment the America’s Got Talent host is now expressing regret for.
—
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 5 Feb. 2025
Sometimes, the visit even devolves into an impromptu musical performance, like when.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 13 Feb. 2025
Chargers-Texans devolved into a blowout, but Los Angeles was actually controlling the game flow for much of the first half.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Once the league’s best franchise, the Sparks have devolved into a rudderless mess with constant changes in leadership, no real stars and only recently announced plans for a new practice facility after being relegated to temporary locker rooms at a community college.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 5 Feb. 2025
Sometimes, the visit even devolves into an impromptu musical performance, like when.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 13 Feb. 2025
Chargers-Texans devolved into a blowout, but Los Angeles was actually controlling the game flow for much of the first half.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Once the league’s best franchise, the Sparks have devolved into a rudderless mess with constant changes in leadership, no real stars and only recently announced plans for a new practice facility after being relegated to temporary locker rooms at a community college.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolve
Verb
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Read: The chaos in higher ed is only getting started The situation could deteriorate if current doctoral students start jumping ship.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
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Nearby, at the corner of Jefferson and Washington streets, a deteriorating, 1920s apartment building is slated to be incorporated into an $80 million medical office building.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The festivities continued well past midnight, with the newlyweds and their guests descending the mountain in jeeps under the stars.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2025
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Arctic air from Canada has descended on the Central and Eastern U.S., delivering record-breaking cold.—
German Lopez,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The show from Sister and Universal International Studios is set in a near-future Margate, against a backdrop of soaring inequality, as Chance discovers life and love while being forced to fight for her family and friends’ survival in a world that’s crumbling around her.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2025
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Typically under him, Newcastle are not a team that crumbles after conceding.—
Liam Tharme,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Many are barely able to pay their staff livable wages, causing rampant turnover and a scarcity of educators, further worsening educational outcomes.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2025
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According to the Financial Health Network’s Financial Health Pulse 2024 report, 70% of American households remain financially unhealthy with day-to-day financial realities worsening for many.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The average home price in the six-county region declined 0.4% from December to $862,115 in January, according to Zillow, marking the sixth consecutive month of declines.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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Another recent poll shows declining confidence, specifically in Republican individuals, in health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolve. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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