as in treated
changed by humans or machines (as in manufacture) from its natural or original form
She's been avoiding processed foods.
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1
as in refined
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in reprocessed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of processed
Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Nearly half of Americans don’t realize processed meat is linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 2 Apr. 2026
Key Takeaways Eating a low-carb breakfast can prevent post-breakfast blood sugar spikes, compared to breakfasts high in sugary and processed carbs.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 16 Jan. 2026
And even high-protein products can come in highly processed and potentially harmful forms.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 7 Jan. 2026
Diets high in processed or red meats and low in fruits and vegetables, as well as high alcohol consumption, may also contribute to pancreatic cancer risk, along with some occupational chemical exposures, per multiple cancer agencies.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 24 Dec. 2025
For now, there's no avoiding the fact that the majority of the foods sold in grocery stores are ultra-processed, says Wolfson of Johns Hopkins.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
The light data was then post-processed using astronomy software to create a spectacular nebula spacescape.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Excluding sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions, researchers said, with ultra-processed and fast foods that are high in sugar, refined starch, salt, unhealthy fats and additives being targeted at and consumed by children.
—Amy Woodyatt, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
During that period, Vikings extracted ores from bogs and processed iron, which was later exported to Europe.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Nearly half of Americans don’t realize processed meat is linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 2 Apr. 2026
Key Takeaways Eating a low-carb breakfast can prevent post-breakfast blood sugar spikes, compared to breakfasts high in sugary and processed carbs.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 16 Jan. 2026
And even high-protein products can come in highly processed and potentially harmful forms.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 7 Jan. 2026
Diets high in processed or red meats and low in fruits and vegetables, as well as high alcohol consumption, may also contribute to pancreatic cancer risk, along with some occupational chemical exposures, per multiple cancer agencies.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 24 Dec. 2025
For now, there's no avoiding the fact that the majority of the foods sold in grocery stores are ultra-processed, says Wolfson of Johns Hopkins.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
The light data was then post-processed using astronomy software to create a spectacular nebula spacescape.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Excluding sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, obesity now exceeds underweight in all regions, researchers said, with ultra-processed and fast foods that are high in sugar, refined starch, salt, unhealthy fats and additives being targeted at and consumed by children.
—Amy Woodyatt, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for processed
Verb
-
Those were refined to feature a chemical called mitragynine.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
-
During a series of public meetings as the county shaped and refined its plan, Black residents said the new blueprint still turned its back on them and asked that the fence be removed and the property be opened up to the neighborhood.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
His Jim Crow traveling kit kept him prepared for anything the Jim Crow car threw at him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
Amon is prepared to bet the farm to stay ahead.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
That all comes filtered through the eyes of two creative women, sculptor Yoriko (Takako Matsu) and her latest model Yuri (Shizuka Ishibashi), an architect from Tokyo, who reconnect at Yoriko’s place in the Japanese hinterlands.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
Gombrowicz just had to get through that first night in the city of Buenos Aires, surrounded by an unfamiliar language that filtered in, like the winter cold, through the windows and under the door.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Wastewater is also reused for irrigation, and the hotel has also started recycling vegetable oils with an organization that transforms the waste into biodiesel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Smaller thrift stores may re-donate unsold goods to shelters or other organizations, and items that still can't be reused are taken to specialized recycling centers in an effort to keep as much as possible out of landfills.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Bubble Up has a more natural taste than many of its competitors because it’s made with pure cane sugar and lemon and lime oils, rather than high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors, The Tasting Table reported.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
The company was founded in 1879 by Carl von Linde, a pioneer in the invention of artificial refrigeration systems.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Once purified, the atmospheric sample enters an enrichment stage that significantly enhances the detectability of trace gases.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Inside these trains, natural gas is purified and cooled to about –260 degrees Fahrenheit (–162 degrees Celsius), below the boiling point of methane.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Senior global brand ambassador Ewan Morgan credited this to the oak used to make the the barrel in which the whisky was aged having a very tight grain which minimized the angel’s share, something that no one expected back when the whiskey was distilled.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
7 May 2026
-
Semafor’s editorial team then examined the strongest patterns and distilled the full analysis into the sharpest insights.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The error, as the Transportation Secretary’s office put it, was soon rectified.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
And with multiple, high-rate alternatives to choose from, it can easily be rectified.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Processed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/processed. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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