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
Anti-inflammatory breakfasts should have whole, non-processed foods. Lauren O'Connor, Health, 6 Feb. 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 bill is similar to one lawmakers narrowly rejected last year, but Blaylock said it has been refined since then.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The board ultimately refined it.
    Steven Mihailovich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Santa Clara Police Chief Cory Morgan has said authorities are prepared to shoot down a drone, if necessary.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Many, like Hernandez, are prepared to give up any efforts to stay in the United States.
    Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Coherence collapses when reality gets filtered on its way up.
    Amy Eliza Wong, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
  • If any part of that is uncertain — weak GPS data, offshore photos, older images — the result gets filtered out.
    Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Lids are generally more durable and can be reused multiple times, while parchment paper can only be reused a few times if its quality remains unaffected.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Although both can be thrown away after one use, P95 masks can be reused if clean and free of contamination.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • This cake requires a fine balance of enough food dye for a vibrant interior without making the cake taste artificial.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Its co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei has promised a clearer focus on the safety of the better-than-human technology called artificial general intelligence that both San Francisco firms aimed to build.
    Matt O'Brien, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The indoor pool is purified with ozone.
    Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
  • In the final step of the process, the paste is thawed and purified into a liquid at a high temperature.
    Alice Park, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Choreographed to perfection, yet not in a way that felt forced in the slightest, Bono and company distilled their brilliant Elevation Tour into a spellbinding three-song set that found the band performing while names of terrorist victims were shown on the big screen.
    Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Hogo Monsta was distilled at Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados, which has been around since the late 1800s and was acquired by French spirits company Maison Ferrand in 2017.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The housing-affordability crisis today is the result of government error and will be rectified.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • One popular strain of urban-policy thinking opposes gentrification—the arrival of affluent people into poor neighborhoods—and argues that poverty should be rectified by ever greater expenditure on public housing.
    Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Processed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/processed. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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