devolve into

USAGE SUMMARY

"devolve into" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
It means to gradually turn into, or degenerate into something else. For example, "The debate quickly devolved into an argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

General discussions

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They tend to devolve into wild yet perfunctory gore.

The New York Times - Books

First, reasonable regulations do not devolve into slippery slopes.

The New York Times

Characters devolve into ideas that have somehow found human hosts.

The New York Times

So Libya could devolve into two or even three pieces.

The New York Times

Federalism would not have to devolve into provincialism.

The New York Times

The government tells us that if the regime falls the country could devolve into sectarian chaos.

The New York Times

When St. Aubyn is not focussed on Patrick's struggle, his characterizations can devolve into mimicry.

The New Yorker

Lo comes across as a hedonist who refuses to devolve into chaos.

The New Yorker

Political analysts cautioned that the rift was unlikely to devolve into a permanent rupture.

The New York Times

Her almost stream-of-consciousness monologues can devolve into wandering indulgence.

The New York Times - Arts

But that perspective can mean a bid to save money can quickly devolve into a boondoggle.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devolve into" to describe a gradual and often negative transformation. Ensure the context clearly indicates a decline or degradation.

Common error

Avoid using "devolve into" when you simply mean 'change into' without the connotation of decline or degradation. Choose a more neutral alternative like '"transform into"' if the change isn't inherently negative.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "devolve into" is as a phrasal verb indicating a process of gradual decline or transformation, typically resulting in a negative outcome. Ludwig's examples showcase its usage in describing how situations or discussions can worsen over time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Books

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devolve into" is a phrasal verb used to describe a gradual and often negative transformation or decline. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates a deterioration or degradation. If a neutral transformation is intended, consider alternatives like '"change into"'. Remember that while widely used, "devolve into" carries a connotation of something becoming worse over time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

degenerate into

Emphasizes a decline in quality or moral character, similar to a negative transformation.

deteriorate into

Focuses on the process of worsening or decaying over time.

descend into

Suggests a downward spiral or decline into a negative state or situation.

regress to

Highlights a return to a former, less developed state.

sink into

Implies a gradual decline or absorption into an undesirable condition.

transform negatively into

Highlights negative transformations.

fall into

Indicates the beginning of a negative state.

end up as

Neutral alternative without necessarily implying a negative outcome, but could if context implies it.

morph into

Focuses on the process of changing into something different.

change into

A more generic way of describing a transformation.

FAQs

What does "devolve into" mean?

"Devolve into" means to gradually degenerate or decline into something worse. It implies a negative transformation over time.

How to use "devolve into" in a sentence?

You can use "devolve into" to describe a situation, discussion, or process that deteriorates over time. For example: "The friendly chat quickly "devolved into" a heated argument."

What are some synonyms for "devolve into"?

Alternatives to "devolve into" include "degenerate into", "deteriorate into", or "descend into". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always negative when something "devolves into" something else?

Yes, "devolve into" generally carries a negative connotation. It suggests a decline or degradation in quality or condition. If you need a neutral transformation, use '"change into"' instead.