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
Initially, Moscow’s invasion of its Western neighbor seemed distant and irrelevant to Pyongyang, but as the conflict devolved into a prolonged war of attrition, with trench warfare reminiscent of World War I, artillery and manpower became crucial.
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Andrei Lankov, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
Since the board violated the principle of one person, one vote, with populous Brooklyn having the same weight as much smaller Staten Island, it was abolished and its powers devolved to the Council.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Dec. 2024
Tensions are running high — a recent homeowners association meeting devolved into shouting and the police had to be called to calm things down.
—Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Dec. 2024
At one point, the hearing devolved into a shouting match between Rowe and a Republican congressman.
—Rebecca Santana, Sun Sentinel, 5 Dec. 2024
The standoff devolved into a bloody civil war that split the nation on political, ethnic and religious lines.
—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
Andrei Lankov, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
Since the board violated the principle of one person, one vote, with populous Brooklyn having the same weight as much smaller Staten Island, it was abolished and its powers devolved to the Council.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Dec. 2024
Tensions are running high — a recent homeowners association meeting devolved into shouting and the police had to be called to calm things down.
—Natalia Jaramillo, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Dec. 2024
At one point, the hearing devolved into a shouting match between Rowe and a Republican congressman.
—Rebecca Santana, Sun Sentinel, 5 Dec. 2024
The standoff devolved into a bloody civil war that split the nation on political, ethnic and religious lines.
—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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolved
Verb
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The problem today lies in farming conditions, which have deteriorated considerably over the years.Marie Bladt, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024
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Over time, the popular roadside attraction deteriorated.Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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As tens of thousands of visitors from around the world descended on Miami for the city’s annual art celebration, a lucky few were invited to an immersive experience that blended contemporary art with fashion, mixology, and luxury travel.Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2024
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The House descended into chaos Wednesday when the GOP revolt sank a last-minute funding measure to keep the government operating through early next year.Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Iranian government remained unprepared for the Syrian army’s swift collapse, as defensive lines crumbled and soldiers proved unready or unable to fight.Hamidreza Azizi, Foreign Affairs, 23 Dec. 2024
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After zooming up in 1998 and 1999, the stock crumbled in the dot-com bust, losing almost all its value.MacKenzie Sigalos,Ari Levy, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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However, wider market fundamentals have not materially altered and have somewhat worsened.Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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While Ireland's housing crisis has now been ongoing for about a decade, the problem is said to have worsened in recent years, as construction has dramatically lagged behind demand and migration to the country has increased requests for more homes.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The theme of running recurred, as did moments of isolation, with Abraham appearing preoccupied and diminished, unable to fully participate as the others moved around him.Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
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Suddenly, a two-score lead had diminished to 27-21.Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near devolved
Cite this Entry
“Devolved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolved. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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