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
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
Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026
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
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
Food systems were shifting toward more processed and less nourishing patterns.
—Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026
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
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
-
Tucked between East Hampton and Sag Harbor at the end of a long white-pebble driveway, the pad is refined and relaxed, with a strong point of view tempered by an understated sensibility.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
22 May 2026
-
Technical parkas, utility jackets, cargo details and functional outerwear are refined through lightweight fabrics, creating looks that feel practical yet polished.—
Alex Badia,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Place seam-sides down on prepared baking sheets.—
Shelly Westerhausen Worcel,
Midwest Living,
18 May 2026
-
Her sincere efforts at pushing back and organizing for a better workplace are met with the bleak reality that the surrounding society is ill-prepared to do anything to help people in her situation.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The dripping water, filtered through the porous lava rock, was also used as drinking water.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
Efficiency, productivity and automation are all filtered into the same mental folder as every other AI vendor.—
Adriana Munoz Vergara,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
By 2030, all packaging in Europe needs to be recyclable by design, meaning the packaging would be intentionally made to be easily sorted, recycled, or reused, as per the EU’s new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).—
Roy Stephen Canivel,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
-
Documents also show dental handpieces were being reused without being sanitized.—
Joe Brandt,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Add a touch of color with these artificial flowers or revamp your living room with a fresh area rug.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 May 2026
-
To make the system more lifelike, the team linked the organoid to an artificial cardiac plexus, a network of nerves located near the base of the heart that helps regulate heartbeat activity.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
But the impression throughout is of a complex work of fiction distilled down to broad-strokes plot machinations, to the exclusion of meaningful character insight.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
Start with a Negroni made with local Mattei Cap Corse Rouge and the Domaine’s own gin distilled with aromatic herbs, and the tagliere di salumi, an assortment of Italian charcuterie.—
Rebekah Peppler,
Travel + Leisure,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
In the fifth inning, Jensen also rectified his mistake.—
Jaylon Thompson
May 23,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2026
-
In the case of Sloth World, FWC issued a verbal warning following a 2025 inspection for the size of the cages in which they were housed, which reports indicate were later rectified.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Processed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/processed. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
