PROCESSED Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

processed 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of processed

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

as in refined

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

Adjective

While the summer focuses on prepared foods, the Toupses also do holiday drop-offs during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even Valentine’s Day that provide ingredients for preparing festive meals at home.

— Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
An Iranian diplomat told the Wall Street Journal that the regime is prepared to take advantage of Trump political vulnerability and would consider preemptive strikes if talks fail.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of prepared

Verb

Because zero-power critical experiments produce negligible heat and only trace amounts of radioactive fission products, the reactor fuel remains largely unchanged and can be reused for additional testing.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
Ooh, the real test a piece has to pass for me is that it can be reused.

— Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026

Definition of reused

Adjective

With the help of his students, Wangchuk froze stream water into conical artificial glaciers—or ice stupas—to store water during the winter and release it throughout the drier spring and summer.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
Because unreliable weather patterns can make natural snow scarce, the resort relies on artificial snow to make skiing possible all winter long.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026

Definition of artificial

Verb

The water contained urine from the porta-potties that had been filtered through a system visible beneath the tank.

— Lauren Oyler, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
The smoke in Philadelphia had filtered down from wildfires in northern Ontario; cities across the United States issued air-quality warnings to residents, directing them to stay indoors as much as possible.

— Matt Gelb, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of filtered

Verb

This gas will then be purified and concentrated, ready for export to local gas networks as what is termed renewable natural gas (RNG).

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
And here, the researchers simply purified the translation machinery and supplied it to the SpudCells.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of purified

Verb

The whiskey was originally distilled between January and June 2015, then aged for 11 years in #3 char American oak barrels.

— David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
After all, what is the nationality of an American model distilled from a Chinese model that was distilled from an American model?

— Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of distilled

Browse Nearby Words

process

processed

processes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Processed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/processed. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of processed

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on processed

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

élan

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes