Decay and Devolve

Decay

Decay verb - To become worse or of less value.
Usage example: the restaurant's standards for food and service had decayed over the years

Devolve and decay are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Devolve" instead a verb "Decay".

Nearby Words: decayed, decaying, decadence, decadent

Devolve

Devolve verb - To become worse or of less value.
Usage example: the once-lovely neighborhood has devolved into a squalid slum

Decay and devolve are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Decay" instead a verb "Devolve".

Nearby Words: devolution, devolving
Cite this Source
Devolve and Decay. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/decay/devolve
Decay & Devolve. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/decay/devolve>.
Devolve or Decay. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/decay/devolve.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "decay" and "devolve" have occurred on timeline