as in deteriorated
to become worse or of less value
the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum
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Recent Examples of devolved
The standoff devolved into a bloody civil war that split the nation on political, ethnic and religious lines.
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Victoria Beaule, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024
Some extra physicality after the play resulted in a brief stoppage to gain control of the game, which momentarily devolved into a melee between the teams.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 7 Dec. 2024
The role of tastemaker has, alas, devolved into influencer, where the main qualification isn’t aesthetic judgment but the size of one’s social media following.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
But after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan devolved into quagmires, and amid an increasingly draconian security state and cascading failures at home — from Hurricane Katrina to the housing bubble — something shifted.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
The Knives Out actor added that the problem of juggling art and celebrity has devolved thanks to the rise of social media.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 25 Nov. 2024
The game devolved from there into a parade to the free throw line, with the flow of the game being significantly disrupted by physical play and officiating.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
The fourth quarter devolved into something only resembling basketball.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
The back-and-forth devolved from there.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
Victoria Beaule, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024
Some extra physicality after the play resulted in a brief stoppage to gain control of the game, which momentarily devolved into a melee between the teams.
—Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 7 Dec. 2024
The role of tastemaker has, alas, devolved into influencer, where the main qualification isn’t aesthetic judgment but the size of one’s social media following.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
But after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan devolved into quagmires, and amid an increasingly draconian security state and cascading failures at home — from Hurricane Katrina to the housing bubble — something shifted.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
The Knives Out actor added that the problem of juggling art and celebrity has devolved thanks to the rise of social media.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 25 Nov. 2024
The game devolved from there into a parade to the free throw line, with the flow of the game being significantly disrupted by physical play and officiating.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024
The fourth quarter devolved into something only resembling basketball.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
The back-and-forth devolved from there.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolved
Verb
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Conditions had deteriorated overnight when the roof of a nearby mine collapsed.Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
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Despite their durability, early diamond bits often deteriorated quickly under the severe conditions of geothermal sites—hot, hard rock and high temperatures posed substantial challenges.Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Firetrucks descended on the campus to fight the flames.Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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Celebrity guests descended on Abu Dhabi for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, attending events from Thursday to Sunday to celebrate the closing race of the 2024 Formula 1 season.Mikelle Street, WWD, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Assad's Baathist dictatorship, seemingly unassailable for decades, has crumbled.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
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Rhee's grip on power ultimately crumbled under the weight of nationwide demonstrations, forcing him to resign.Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The two rappers have had a feud that dates back decades, and Jackson repeatedly trolled Combs in social media posts as his legal troubles worsened.Conor Murray, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Over the course of several years, Mangione posted on Reddit about persistent back pain that started as a minor issue but worsened in 2022 after a surfing accident and a slip on a piece of paper.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This widespread reduction in headcount is further exacerbated by the growing risk of conventional tech roles becoming outdated or diminished due to the advancement of AI.Jack Kelly, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
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Fortunately that risk seems to have just diminished—this has huge implications for the future of secure messaging.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near devolved
Cite this Entry
“Devolved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolved. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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