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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Dissimilar Words
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
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
These tend to be less processed and have fewer additives than mixed meats such as ham, salami and bologna.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 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
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
These tend to be less processed and have fewer additives than mixed meats such as ham, salami and bologna.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 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
-
The show’s costumes were later refined after initial backlash to early images shared by Murphy.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
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This system, refined over millions of years, supports metabolic needs for activities ranging from walking and running to speaking and singing.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian astronaut on the mission, mentally prepared to don a spacesuit and figure out how to get the crew home.—
David W. Brown,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Spread mixture into prepared baking dish and sprinkle with queso fresco.—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Vogue is committed to reporting and riffing on the global fashion conversation—always filtered through the lens of culture and what’s happening in the world at large.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The Symphony Series launched in 2024 with the Cristalino expression, a rare example of how this unofficial category of aged tequila that’s been filtered to remove color can actually succeed.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The archaeologist said the cannon showed clear signs of being deliberately decommissioned before being reused.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Nationally, Martin said, the company washes about 1 million reusable items a month, and each item can be safely washed and reused somewhere around a thousand times.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Such spending flourishes in secrecy, and this year’s artificial rush toward a last-minute deal suggests that more giveaways are coming.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Pasricha also advises her patients to steer clear of foods with artificial sweeteners - often advertised as sugar-free - because they're known to cause diarrhea and bloating.—
Andrea Muraskin,
NPR,
11 Apr. 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
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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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But has truly great art ever been easily distilled?—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
6 Apr. 2026
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Ozama is distilled, aged, and bottled in the country from Dominican sugarcane and even named after a river near where Ortiz grew up.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Once the initial issues were rectified, the nightmare was still far from over, as Hilton developed another infection that had to be rigorously treated.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
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After forgetting to kiss at the altar, the couple rectified the error on the Buckingham Palace balcony in front of 600,000 onlookers.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Processed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/processed. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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