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 discussion devolved as attendees opined about the criminal justice system generally, advertised their nonprofits during the question-and-answer session and talked about unrelated issues.
—
Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The routine hearing quickly devolved into a series of heated exchanges, with shouting and personal insults being hurled between the country’s top federal prosecutor and Democrats on the panel.
—Sophie Brams, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
The exchange quickly devolved into arguments and personal attacks.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Both Paxton’s baggage and his history of using his office to troll Democrats is a central feature in the Republican primary, which has devolved into a barrage of personal attacks of betrayal, adultery, and corruption.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead, an arcane academic skirmish has devolved into open hostilities.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Hopes for a quick resolution to the Homeland Security spending bill dimmed Thursday as negotiations devolved into a blame game among Republicans and Democrats over who should be talking to whom.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
House Democrats clashed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday during a fiery hearing on Capitol Hill that devolved into shouting matches and throwing sharp elbows.
—Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2026
The collapse of Wehrlein and Antonio Felix Da Costa’s relationship devolved over a couple of years into a intrateam Cold War last season, Porsche brought in Nico Muller and Da Costa moved on to Jaguar TCS.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The routine hearing quickly devolved into a series of heated exchanges, with shouting and personal insults being hurled between the country’s top federal prosecutor and Democrats on the panel.
—Sophie Brams, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
The exchange quickly devolved into arguments and personal attacks.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Both Paxton’s baggage and his history of using his office to troll Democrats is a central feature in the Republican primary, which has devolved into a barrage of personal attacks of betrayal, adultery, and corruption.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead, an arcane academic skirmish has devolved into open hostilities.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Hopes for a quick resolution to the Homeland Security spending bill dimmed Thursday as negotiations devolved into a blame game among Republicans and Democrats over who should be talking to whom.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
House Democrats clashed with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday during a fiery hearing on Capitol Hill that devolved into shouting matches and throwing sharp elbows.
—Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 4 Feb. 2026
The collapse of Wehrlein and Antonio Felix Da Costa’s relationship devolved over a couple of years into a intrateam Cold War last season, Porsche brought in Nico Muller and Da Costa moved on to Jaguar TCS.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolved
Verb
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Prosecutors argue that Colin Gray was aware that his son's mental health had deteriorated in the weeks before the shooting, but still gave the teen the assault-style weapon as a Christmas gift and purchased a laser sight, tactical vest, and ammunition for him.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
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But the brands’ sales have deteriorated further since the split was announced, making a spinoff less appealing to investors.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Crews descended the hillside and found a person inside the vehicle, who was pronounced dead at the scene.—
Tarek Fattal,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
On his way, two more drones descended and exploded.—
Michael Holtz,
New Yorker,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Striking out on his own Kaszas was born in Budapest in May 1987, two years to the week before the Iron Curtain crumbled and Hungary’s Communist regime ceased to exist.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Over the past year, hiring in the United States has slowed to a crawl, people’s feelings about the economy have crumbled and inflation has remained stubbornly elevated.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The hospital cleared him for incarceration with a Narcan prescription and instructions to return to the emergency room if symptoms worsened, the lawsuit alleged.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Courtesy of Arlit Martinez-Carrada The day after Martinez-Carrada's arrest, her son's condition worsened significantly.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trump has also, thus far, declined meeting Pahlavi, who has lived in Washington since his family’s exile in 1979.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, pathways responsible for synthesizing certain B vitamins declined, suggesting the community was reallocating its biochemical resources rather than simply increasing activity across the board.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After a police operation in Rio de Janeiro in October degenerated into a chaotic shootout, leading to more than 120 deaths, Brazilian civil society groups reacted in horror.—
Brian Winter,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
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Our national political and cultural discourse, especially online, has degenerated into a permanent fever dream.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The mood around EVs can be attributed to many factors, such as the loss of federal tax credits in 2025; the end of emissions waivers and revenues from carbon credits; and diminished aftermarket values as consumers fear battery degradation and anticipate quickly evolving technologies.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Davie’s successor will inherit an organization wrestling with its place in a media ecosystem dominated by overseas tech giants, as well as battling enemies closer to home, with conservative politicians and media proprietors wishing to see the BBC diminished during charter renewal.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Devolved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolved. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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