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

On Saturday, French museum Centre Pompidou-Metz sent out a curious media blast headed by two grainy images. —Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 1 June 2026

Eastern Ukraine — There is a whirr, a flurry of dust, a pause as the grainy image recalibrates, and then a devastating blast. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 30 May 2026

Every windshield crack, manhole, grainy photograph, and autopsy discrepancy shimmered with potential significance. —Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

However, special care is needed when freezing and thawing hummus to preserve its flavor and smooth texture and prevent it from becoming grainy. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 25 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