grainier; grainiest
Synonyms of grainynext
1
: resembling or having some characteristic of grain : not smooth or fine
2
of a photograph : appearing to be composed of grain-like particles
graininess noun

Examples of grainy in a Sentence

The mustard has a grainy texture. grainy sand kept it off the rankings as one of the nation's best beaches
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The footage is grainy, and both the men look decades younger. T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 Just be careful not to add water, since even tiny amounts can cause melted chocolate to turn into a grainy, clumpy mess. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 June 2026 That said, Collingwood notes that heavy cream that’s been frozen may become grainy or separated when thawed. Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2026 Milk, like other dairy products, may separate and develop a grainy texture when frozen. Patricia S York, Southern Living, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for grainy

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grainy was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Grainy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grainy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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