processed 1 of 2

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.

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processed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of process

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
Low-fiber, constipating diets are rich in highly processed or fast foods and dehydrating beverages like excessive alcohol. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 28 June 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 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for processed
Adjective
  • At precisely the moment admissions have become more subjective, professors across the country are increasingly expressing concern that many students are arriving at college less prepared for college-level work than previous generations.
    Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • But other council members were not prepared to put it on the ballot.
    Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • The accommodations strike a balance between rustic and refined, with neutral tones and natural materials that call back to the estate’s heritage while offering guests an atmosphere of refined comfort.
    Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
  • Members of both parties should treat the CREATE AI Act as a rare chance to pass an AI bill that has already been debated, refined, and proven in pilot form.
    Neil Björkman, Fortune, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Often the materials are crushed, milled, then reused directly on-site at the job where they were removed.
    Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Glamnetic uses thicker, durable nails that can often be reused multiple times, paired with a strong brush-on glue designed for long wear.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • The West should also stop drawing artificial distinctions that favor Russian escalation management over Ukrainian survival.
    David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Instead of using artificial colors, look for ingredients that naturally fit the bill.
    Kate Williams, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Most of it gets filtered out without a second thought, and our brains are wired to ignore what feels predictable or irrelevant.
    Ross Kernez, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The byproducts of this process—such as ammonia—must be filtered out and excreted by the kidneys.
    Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • And here, the researchers simply purified the translation machinery and supplied it to the SpudCells.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
  • The amount may be infinitesimal—white sugar and bottled water are sometimes purified with charred animal bones, for instance—but some hypersensitive alpha-gal patients avoid the risk anyway.
    Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The primary reason for Golden State’s allure to the former Laker could be distilled into two names.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
  • The spirit was fermented in earthen pits and distilled, a process that took a year across eight fermentations and seven distillations.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Panizo’s post erroneously that the battle was against Croatia, a mistake the local podcaster later rectified.
    Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
  • California plans to sue in 60 days if the situation isn’t rectified.
    Jennifer McDermott, Fortune, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Processed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/processed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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