devolve

verb

di-ˈvälv How to pronounce devolve (audio)
Definition of devolvenext
as in to deteriorate
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of devolve By the end of Volume I, the court romance has devolved into a series of infidelities, both personal and political, which cause the corruption and destabilization of England’s fledgling democracy. — Eileen Hunt, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026 The residents occasionally gather in a disused rec center but the meetings devolve into rants about immigrants, junkies, thugs and vigilantism. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026 At the very least, no one wants to feel invisible, especially when our devolving society keeps finding new ways to instill that impression. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026 But the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has devolved significantly since its glory days atop the comedy calendar, proving to be a weaker platform for political satire than the Onion’s takeover of Infowars. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for devolve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolve
  1. deteriorate
  2. descend
  3. crumble
  4. worsen
  5. decline
Verb
  • Meanwhile, at the celebratory crew dinner, the we’re-all-in-this-together vibe starts to deteriorate.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Her condition deteriorated rapidly over the following 48 hours.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • Ambitious mukbang-ers eager to prove their gastronomic stamina descended on Red Lobster locations across the country to consume absurd quantities of shrimp.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The plane descended sharply, losing half its altitude in less than two minutes, before other crew members took control of the Boeing 737 Max and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
    — Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of descend
Verb
  • The neighborhood This is one of Bangkok’s oldest districts, where street kitchens still dish up 100-year-old family recipes and crumbling shophouses line the road.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Plague death exposes Putin's crumbling grip as war and economy spiral downward.
    — , FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of crumble
Verb
  • Some experts point to worsening public health since the 2008 financial crisis, citing factors such as growing obesity, long hospital waiting times, the cost-of-living crisis and other social causes.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026
  • His latest promise — which, like the others, would require approval from Congress — would probably cost more than $1 trillion, adding to the ballooning deficit and worsening inflation.
    — Melissa Goldin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of worsen
Verb
  • The parties involved in the litigation—as well as Red Lobster itself, which is not being sued—declined to comment for this article, but their court filings lay out the sad saga in dramatic detail.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But campus police made no arrests, and the district attorney, Matthew Van Houten, initially declined to pursue charges against the seven fraternity brothers.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of decline

Browse Nearby Words

devolutions
devolve
devolved
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Cite this Entry

“Devolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolve. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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