grainy

adjective

ˈgrā-nē 

grainier; grainiest

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

Synonyms of grainy

• coarse
• grained
• sandy
• granular

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

Cinematographer Paul Guilhaume drenches the film in dark blues and grainy blacks, as deeply unsettling as Cristina’s canvases. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 22 May 2026

One grainy black-and-white photograph shows Basulto alongside Juan Pablo Roque and Rene Gonzalez, two members of the group later identified as Cuban spies. —Hank Tester, CBS News, 20 May 2026

Apples tend to be crisp with a tangy-sweet flavor, while pears are softer, with a grainier texture and a more mellow sweetness. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 20 May 2026

Guests first move through a dim corridor lined with towering stacks of CRT televisions flickering with grainy studio footage, ambient static and fragmented vocals. —Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grainy

• brainy
• cheyney
• rainey
• zany
• allegany
• miscellany
• theophany
• terrane