as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum
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Recent Examples of devolving
Democratic societies function when citizens can handle disagreement without devolving into personal attacks.
—
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for devolving
Verb
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The designation reflects the deteriorating relations between the United States and one of its closest Latin American allies.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
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As Sweet noted, elevated inflation and deteriorating labor market conditions typically call for conflicting monetary responses.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More than 2,200 elite track and field athletes are descending on Tokyo for the upcoming world championships, but Cooper Lutkenhaus might be the only one to pack homework.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Some lava tubes that wrap across the surface of the Red Planet could make perfect protective shells to position prefabricated human habitats transported aboard the massive Starship capsules that are now counting down to descending on Mars.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In just a few days, the central bank is expected to lower interest rates for the first time since December to shore up America’s crumbling labor market.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
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The film, based on a novel by Karina Sainz Borgo, stars Natalia Reyes as a woman forced to grapple with the death of her mother against the backdrop of a crumbling city and a gang that has overtaken her apartment building.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The negativity around Wilson wasn’t only about his declining physical skills.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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Still, there is some evidence click-throughs per search are declining.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Fortunately, just as the worsening problem feels insurmountable, solutions are becoming feasible.—
Dan Riskin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Wildfire worries With the worsening drought comes worries over wildfires.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, diminishing perceptions that a college education is very important have occurred relatively equally among both Republicans and Democrats, suggesting that other factors must also be at play.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The threat for heavy rain in South Florida is diminishing, however typical scattered thunderstorms with locally heavy downpours are still possible in the area through the weekend.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Devolving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/devolving. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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