powdered

USAGE SUMMARY

'powdered' is a correct and common word in written English.
It can be used as an adjective to describe something that has been reduced to a fine, dry substance, typically by grinding or crushing. It can also be used as a verb meaning to apply or sprinkle with powder. Example 1 (adjective): The powdered sugar made the cake look beautifully frosted. Example 2 (verb): She powdered her face before leaving the house for a smoother complexion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Endorsing a political party to people who still buy newspapers is like endorsing a political party exclusively to people who still wear monocles and powdered wigs.

The Guardian

He has powdered his face to "whiten up" for the Operation Black Vote campaign to warn Britain's ethnic minority communities that not voting will "take the colour out of Britain".

The Guardian - Sport

While cocaine and ecstasy - the latter sometimes powdered and snorted but usually taken as a pill - are class A drugs, amphetamines are class B, attracting lower penalties.

The Guardian

Several issues remain: for example, Central America wants to limit imports of Europe's (subsidised) powdered milk and cheese.

The Economist

His writing is elegant and urbane, full of paradoxes, aphorisms and conceits: "The sky has powdered the taiga [the northern forest], shaking velvety down over the vert-de-bronze of the cedars.

The Economist

The more popular sweet chocolate has sugar added, while milk chocolate includes powdered milk as well.

The Economist

In the EKI stores in poorer areas, sales change sharply around the 15th of every month, as salaries run out and customers switch from meat to pasta or beans, and from orange juice to cheaper powdered drinks.

The Economist

But rather than rethink his statist food and agriculture policy, the president has declared "economic war" on the private sector.The cargoes came to light last month when state intelligence agents were investigating the theft of powdered milk.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Laser-sintering involves zapping layers of powdered plastic or metal with a laser to harden the powder in some places, but not others.

The Economist

That involves spraying a fine jet of powdered metal through a nozzle and into a laser beam, which melts both the powder and the surface of the piece being worked on, welding the two together.

The Economist

The legacy of its powdered-milk scandals, however, is that Nestlé actions in poor countries are scrutinised like those of few others.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food items, specify the type of "powdered" ingredient to enhance clarity (e.g., "powdered sugar", "powdered milk", "powdered gelatin").

Common error

Avoid using "powdered" interchangeably with adjectives like "powdery" or "dusty". "Powdered" indicates a deliberate process, whereas "powdery" describes a texture, and "dusty" implies being covered in dust.

Linguistic Context

The word "powdered" functions primarily as an adjective, describing something that has been reduced to a fine, dry state or covered with powder. As Ludwig shows, it modifies nouns like "milk", "sugar", or "metal", indicating a specific form or treatment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "powdered" functions primarily as an adjective to describe something that has been processed into a fine, dry substance or covered with powder. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, especially in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When using "powdered", consider specifying the substance for clarity and avoid confusion with similar adjectives like "powdery" or "dusty". The related phrases offer alternative ways to describe similar states or processes, enhancing the precision and variety of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in powdered form

Emphasizes the physical state or presentation of the substance.

pulverized

Highlights the complete breakdown of a substance into a fine powder.

powdered over

Suggests a coating or layering of powder.

ground

Focuses on the action of reducing something to small pieces.

in dust form

Emphasizes the fine particle nature of the material.

milled

Indicates the process of grinding something, often grains.

micronized

Highlights the process of reducing particles to a very small size.

dusted

Implies a light covering of powder.

powder coated

Refers to the application of a powdered coating, often for industrial purposes.

floured

Specifically refers to covering something with flour.

FAQs

How is "powdered" used as an adjective?

As an adjective, "powdered" describes something that has been turned into or covered with powder. For example, "powdered sugar" is sugar that has been ground into a fine powder. Similarly, "powdered milk" is milk that has been dehydrated into a powder form.

What verbs can be used to create a "powdered" substance?

Verbs like "grind", "mill", and "pulverize" can be used to describe the action of creating a substance that is "powdered". For example, you can grind spices to obtain spices in "powdered form".

In what contexts is "powdered" most commonly used?

According to Ludwig, "powdered" is frequently encountered in "news media", often related to food products or industrial processes. It is also common in "formal and business" contexts when discussing commodity trading or agricultural products.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "covered in powder"?

Instead of "covered in powder", you can use phrases like "dusted with", "sprinkled with", or "coated with", depending on the specific context and the amount of powder involved.