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

Picture quality is excellent in the lower register, showing very little noise up to ISO 12500 and remaining very good (if slightly grainy) up to the maximum sensitivity. —PC Magazine, 20 Nov. 2025

These posts show grainy video footage of vessels being blown up. —Anusha Mathur, NPR, 12 Nov. 2025

In July, Rhode dropped its Lemontini Peptide Lip Tint, the first tint to debut with a new reformulation, following customer complaints that the original formula produced a grainy texture. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025

My heart eyes for the beets and the overall experience at Rose's almost blinded me from noticing the dressing was hardly a caramel, but rather a congealed marinade with a grainy mouthfeel. —Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grainy

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