devolves
Gradually falls apart
Devolves is the third-person singular of devolve, meaning to pass or transfer to another, typically by succession or delegation: The responsibility devolves to the vice president.
More commonly now, devolve means to decline or degenerate into a worse state: The meeting devolved into shouting.
This negative sense dominates contemporary usage—things devolve into chaos, arguments, or violence.
Becomes progressively worse
- degeneratesWorsens over time
- declinesRefuses or diminishes
- decaysDeteriorates over time
- worsensBecomes less favorable
regresses · backslides · collapses · disintegrates · crumbles · erodes · atrophies · slips
Chosen representatives or assigns
- passesGoes beyond or through
- cedesFormally surrenders control
- conveysTransfers or expresses
- assignsDesignates for a purpose
relinquishes · entrusts · hands over · bestows · grants · confers · surrenders · transmits
Transfers to successors
- descendsMoves downward
- succeedsAccomplishes a goal
- inheritsReceives through lineage
- transfersRelocates or hands off
bequests · estates · heirs · succession · lineage · patrimony · legacy
Profits from investments
- falls backWithdraws to earlier position
- defaultsPreset options or failures
- regressesReturns to prior condition
- retreatsBacks off or sanctuaries
recedes · goes back · rolls back · reinstates · restores
deteriorates
Becomes progressively worse
- degeneratesWorsens over time
- declinesRefuses or diminishes
- decaysDeteriorates over time
worsens · regresses · backslides · collapses · disintegrates · crumbles · erodes · atrophies · slips · lapses
delegates
Chosen representatives or assigns
assigns · relinquishes · entrusts · hands over · bestows · grants · confers · surrenders · transmits · bequeaths
passes down
Transfers to successors
transfers · bequests · estates · heirs · succession · lineage · patrimony · legacy
returns
Profits from investments
- falls backWithdraws to earlier position
- defaultsPreset options or failures
- regressesReturns to prior condition
retreats · recedes · goes back · rolls back · reinstates · restores
devolvescentralizes
Concentrates authority or resources
consolidates · concentrates · federalizes · unifies · nationalizes
devolvesimproves
Gets better gradually
evolves · advances · progresses · develops · matures
devolvesevolves
Changes gradually over time
elaborates · organizes · sophisticates · structures · integrates