processed 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of processednext
as in treated
changed by humans or machines (as in manufacture) from its natural or original form She's been avoiding processed foods.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

processed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of process
1
as in refined

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in reprocessed

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of processed
Adjective
Nearly half of Americans don’t realize processed meat is linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer. — Sarah Garone, Health, 2 Apr. 2026 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
Verb
These ballots will be processed and counted after the county elections office has completed the voter registration process. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for processed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for processed
  1. prepared
  2. refined
  3. reused
  4. artificial
  5. filtered
  6. purified
  7. distilled
  8. rectified
Adjective
  • Advocates for unaccompanied migrant children, former government officials, and some members of Congress have criticized the move, arguing that the state is not prepared to handle an influx of vulnerable children, some of whom need special care.
    — Mark Betancourt, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Tibi said the Joint List is prepared to help the opposition form a minority government, led by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of prepared
Verb
  • The underlying technology relies on a loop-type molten salt design refined over six years.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The somewhat chronological organization of the show reveals formal and aesthetic through lines that emerged and were refined over time.
    — Adrian Madlener, Curbed, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of refined
Verb
  • Standardized technology components can be reused to create different configurations without redesigning an entire system for every deployment.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Believed to be constructed during the Hasmonean period, it was repaired and reused through successive eras, including the Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Crusader, Mamluk and Ottoman periods.
    — Michele Chabin, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of reused
Adjective
  • Many also have holiday decor collections filled with wreaths and artificial Christmas trees already on sale.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The stock market has been shaky recently as technology and artificial-intelligence stocks have swung on worries their prices shot too high in the frenzy around AI.
    — Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of artificial
Verb
  • Eco effort Each room has a glass carafe instead of plastic water bottles and there are filtered water stations on each floor as part of the essentials closets, which feature amenities like towels or sanitary products available to be taken as needed.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Supporters had filtered into a ballroom at the Westin Galleria Dallas hotel, adorned with Texas and American flags, plus a bar and a buffet.
    — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of filtered
Verb
  • But what if the water and nutrients could be purified from whey permeate and used for other purposes?
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Once hydrogen is flowing from the ground, how will the gas be purified?
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of purified
Verb
  • Where climate action has largely been distilled into decarbonization, nature is sprawling and complex — even more so than fashion supply chains.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The agave hearts, or pinas, are harvested and then cooked, crushed, fermented, and distilled.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of distilled
Verb
  • Going into their Week 7 bye, Quinn was adamant that would get rectified.
    — Tashan Reed, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
  • One potential downside is the lack of air conditioning, which will be rectified in an upcoming renovation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rectified

Browse Nearby Words

process
processed
processes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Processed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/processed. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All